Deputy Premier Yigal Allon was made a freeman of the town of Lydda today but Defense Minister Dayan declined the same honor when it was offered to him.
The occasion was the 21st anniversary of the liberation of Lydda during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, Mr. Allon, then leader of Palmach, the attack arm of Haganah, was the commander in charge of the operation that took Lydda from the Arabs. Gen. Dayan also participated in the battle as commander of a motorized brigade that consisted of jeeps and a single armored car. His force was the first to enter Lydda. But when he was offered the status of freeman of the town he declined saying he was opposed to such honors in principle.
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