Friedman Yellin, leader of the Fighters for the Freedom of Israel, with whom the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency spoke for four hours at a secluded spot “somewhere in Palestine,” declared that his organization, which is popularly known as “the Stern Group” is ready to cooperate with the other Jewish resistance groups, the Haganah and the Irgun Zvai Leumi, in a working agreement similar to the French liberation movement.
“Such an agreement,” he stated, “would certainly increase the effectiveness of Jewish action and strengthen our striking power. Possibly one or both of the other resistance groups may fight only up to certain point, until certain objectives are gained– granting of 50,000 immigration certificates, for example. but our struggle cannot and there. So long as there is a fight against British rule, we will fight. If they lay down their arms anywhere along the line, before the final goal is reached, we will continue the fight.”
Yellin said that his fighters are gaining new support and sympathizers daily, “and more people now understand us.” He said they broke away from the Irgun Zvai Leuni in September, 1944, because “we felt that the war offered an excellent opportunity to free Palestine by striking at the British. Others believed that if they helped Britain during the war, she would be grateful and help the Jews afterwards. Now they know the truth and are beginning to realize that we were right.”
DENIES HIS ORGANIZATION MAINTAINED CONTACT WITH ENEMY DURING WAR
He denied the charge that his group had any contact with the enemy during the war, as well as the statement that most members of the organization came from Poland. “Our membership is made up largely of young people born in Palestine,” he said, “and they have a feeling for Palestine which is peculiar to them. It is their home. Our active front line is composed of such young men — they are our fighters. Our rear echelon is made up of older people. Also, whereas in other Jewish resistance organizations the members devote only a limited part of their time to liberation activities, our members give all their time to the party.”
He said that, as is the case with other similar movements, “we are organized in small groups. No one member knows more than five others, save in the case of some of our fighting units.” he added that his group is preparing for a long, hard fight; that money and arms are being collected unremittingly; that “when the time comes, we shall strike hard and fiercely, “and that” I hope the American people will understand.”
“Through our activities of the past few years,” he explained, “we have sought to bring the Jewish question to the immediate attention of the world. The assassination in Cairo last year of Lord Moyne, the British resident minister in the Middle Bast, was an act in that direction. We have also sought to set an example for the Jewish people — showing them that only by fighting and struggling can their hopes be achieved and a Jewish state won. We feel that we have succeeded in both our aims. In addition, we have made the Palestine government show its true colors — as a vicious instrument aimed at the permanent subjugation of the Jewish people.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
