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In July, 1946, members of the Jewish underground (Irgun) in the British Mandate of Palestine planted and exploded a bomb at the King David Hotel where the British military command and the British Criminal Investigation Division were based. 91 people were killed. 28 British, 41 Arab, 17 Jewish, and 5 other.

The attack was ordered by David Ben Gurion and directed by Menachem Begin, both would later become Israeli Prime Ministers. The attack was conducted by two teams, commanded by Yosef Avni, Yisrael Levi (Gidon).

Shortly after Black Sabbath, Moshe Sneh (chief of the Haganah General Headquarters) sent a letter to Begin, with instructions:

• a) At the earliest possible opportunity, you are to carry out the operation at the 'chick' (code:King David Hotel) and at the house of "your servant and messiah" (code:David Brothers building). Inform me of the date. Preferably at the same time. Do not reveal the identity of the implementing body - either by announcing it explicitly or by hinting.
• b) We too are preparing something - will inform you of details in good time.
• c) Exclude TA (Tel Aviv) from any plan of action. We are all interested in preserving TA - as the center of Yishuv life and the center of our own activities. If, as the result of any action, TA is immobilized (curfew, arrests), this will paralyse us and our plans as well. And the important objects of the other side are not focused here. Hence, TA is 'out of bounds' for the forces of Israel. 1.7.46. M. (Moshe Sneh)."

The British House of Commons responded:

• "On July 22, 1946, one of the most dastardly and cowardly crimes in recorded history took place. We refer to the blowing up of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. Ninety-two persons lost their lives in that stealthy attack, 45 were injured, among whom there were many high officials, junior officers and office personnel, both men and women. The King David Hotel was used as an office housing the Secretariat of the Palestine Government and British Army Headquarters. The attack was made on 22 July at about 12 o’clock noon when offices are usually in full swing. The attackers, disguised as milkmen, carried the explosives in milk containers, placed them in the basement of the Hotel and ran away.

The Chief Secretary for the Government of Palestine, Sir John Shaw, declared in a broadcast:

• "As head of the Secretariat, the majority of the dead and wounded were my own staff, many of whom I have known personally for eleven years. They are more than official colleagues. British, Arabs, Jews, Greeks, Armenians; senior officers, police, my orderly, my chauffeur, messengers, guards, men and women-- young and old-- they were my friends."

see also: terrorism