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Zionist terrorism refers here to acts of political violence committed by Zionist groups, against British military, Arab, and Jewish targets, before the establishment of the state of Israel.

Mainstream historians have occasionally used the term "Zionist terrorism" to refer to acts committed by the Jewish underground during the British Mandate of Palestine. Modern usage outside that context is exclusive to extremists, including anti-Zionist, Islamist and neo-Nazi sources, as a political epithet to deprecate Israel.

Pre-statehood Zionist militancy

In the 1930s and 1940s, during their campaign for a Jewish National Homeland, two Jewish underground organizations, the Irgun and Lehi (also known as The Stern Gang), were responsible for a number of violent acts against the British and Arab inhabitants of the British Mandate of Palestine

The Haganah and Irgun underground organizations suspended their activity against the British from the beginning of World War II so as not to distract the British from the fight against the Axis Powers and many members of the underground volunteered to the Jewish Brigade to fight the Nazis.

The Irgun resumed attacks in 1944. The smaller Lehi continued anti-British attacks throughout the war.

A fuller list of incidents can be found at List of Irgun attacks during the 1930's.

• During the period 1937-1939, the Irgun conducted a campaign of bombings and other 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 King David Hotel bombing on July 26, 1946, killing 91 people. The Irgun delivered a warning to the hotel switchboard but there is disagreement over whether it was sufficiently in advance of the explosion or whether the hotel management responded effectively.
• Attacked British military airfields and railways several times in 1946.
• The bombing by the Irgun of the British Embassy in Rome, also 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.
• Lehi assassinated the UN mediator Count Bernadotte in September 1948 for his allegedly pro-Arab conduct during the cease-fire negotiations.

Actions during the 1948 War of Independence

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

See also

• British Mandate of Palestine
• List of massacres committed during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war

References

• . ISBN 0312792050. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Author= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Title= ignored (|title= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)

• Israel and Zionism
• Terrorism
• Pejorative political terms