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On July 26, 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. Around 45 people were injured.

The attack on the hotel was considered retalitation for the "Black Sabbath", massive attack by the British on the Jewish citizens of Palestine. Some 17,000 British soliders took military action against the Jewish populace, and some 2700 Jews were taken to British internment camps. Their weapons were confiscated, and the Jewish populace felt that they were put in a position where they could now be massacred by the Arab populace, which had vowed to exterminate the Jews.

Britsh attacks against the Jews in Palestine

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 and Yisrael Levi.

The Attack

Shortly after Black Sabbath, Moshe Sneh (chief of the Haganah General Headquarters) sent a letter to Menachem 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 commander of the attack Yisrael Levi (Gidon) (1926-1990) ordered that the following message be delibered immediately the operator of the King David Hotel; "I am speaking on behalf of the Hebrew underground. We have placed an explosive device in the hotel. Evacuate it at once - you have been warned." This message was also given to the French consulate, which was next door, in order to prevent loss of life there was well.

Responses to the attack

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."

The Jewish leadership publicly condemned these attacks.

Controversial points

• Some people claim that while Irgun claimed responsibility, later evidence also shows involvement of the Haganah. need cite
• Some people view this attack as the first use of a car bomb in the Middle East. However unlike modern day car-bombings, the perpetrtors of this event first telephoned the operator of the building, and told them that they must evacuate. The intent was to destroy the building, not to kill.

see also: terrorism, israeli terrorism