An early chapter in Israel’s history was recalled yesterday at a reunion of 400 former political prisoners who were jailed by British Mandatory authorities at Latrun from 1945 to 1948. Mostly middle aged now with wives and grown up children, the former inmates recalled their adventures and exploits at a time when the struggle for Israel’s independence had to be carried on underground.
Among those celebrating the 20th anniversary of their release from the Latrun detention camp were former members of Haganah, the defense force of Jewish Palestine and forerunner of Israel’s Army; the Irgun Zvai Leumi and “Lehi” or Stern Gang, smaller militant groups whose commando tactics were credited by many with having hastened the British decision to give up the Palestine mandate but which brought them into conflict with the Haganah. But the political differences of the past were forgotten during the celebration that lasted through the night. The hall was decorated with old posters and placards bearing fiery slogans that the inmates once hung in the Latrun dormitories in defiance of their captors. Those relics of the prestatehood period were preserved by many of the underground members who are today scientists, industrialists, civil servants, businessmen and ordinary laborers.
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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.
