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In the 1930s and 1940s, groups within the Zionist underground in Palestine committed several acts of political violence to advance their campaign for Jewish National Homeland in the territory of the Mandate for Palestine. These included actions by the Irgun, and Lehi, also known as the Stern Gang, primarily against British policemen and soldiers, but also against UN personnel and suspected Jewish collaborators. In the 1930s, attacks were made against Arabs in response to attacks against Jewish communities.

At the time, the British described such political violence as "Jewish terrorism" or "Zionist terrorism", although the latter phrase is now used as a political epithet in reference to present-day events outside that historical context.

The Haganah and Irgun suspended their activity against the British after the beginning of World War II so as not to distract the British from the fight against Nazi Germany. The Irgun resumed attacks in 1944, after the defeat of the Nazis was assured. The smaller Lehi continued anti-British attacks and direct action throughout the war.

Irgun and Lehi attacks

• During the period 1937-1939 (in which more than 320 Jews were killed by Arab attacks), the Irgun conducted a campaign of retaliatory acts of violence against Arab civilians.
• Lehi assassinated British minister Lord Moyne in Cairo in 1944.
• The killings of several suspected collaborators with the Haganah and the British mandate government during "The Hunting Season" (1944-1945).
• The bombing of British headquarters at the King David Hotel on July 26, 1946, killing 91 people — 28 British, 41 Arab, 17 Jewish, and 5 others. Around 45 people were injured. A warning was sent before the explosion.
• Attacked British military airfields and railways several times in 1946.
• The bombing by the Irgun of the British Embassy in Rome in 1946.
• The 1947 reprisal killing of two British sergeants who had been taken prisoner in response to British execution of two Irgun members in Akko prison.
• The September 1948, Lehi assassination of the UN mediator Count Bernadotte, whom Lehi accused of a pro-Arab stance during the cease-fire negotiations.

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War

• Deir Yassin massacre, in April 1948, by Irgun and Lehi forces

See also

• Violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Palestinian political violence
• Political terrorism

References

• J. Bowyer Bell (1977). Terror out of Zion: Irgun Zvai Leumi, LEHI, and the Palestine underground, 1929-1949. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-79205-0.

• Arab-Israeli conflict
• Zionism
• Terrorism