Category Archives: Deir Yassin ~ Ami Isseroff

Deir Yassin: The Red Cross Report

The Red Cross Report Translation of Dr. Jacques DeReynier’s Memorandum on Deir Yassin by Matthew Hogan © 1999 Matthew C. Hogan   Translator/Annotator’s Introduction The following is a translation from French of the memorandum sent to the main office of the Red Cross in Geneva by Jacques de Reynier on April 13, 1948. The correspondence concerns his visit to the site of Deir Yassin on April 11, 1948, after it was captured by combined forces of the Irgun and Lehi, assisted by a unit of Palmach. De Reynier was representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Jerusalem. The memorandum was typewritten with a minor typo here and there and with some handwritten insertions. The translation below … Continue reading

Posted in Deir Yassin ~ Ami Isseroff, PeaceWatch ~ Ami Isseroff | Leave a comment

Deir Yassin: Levitza’s Account

Deir Yassin Levitza’s Account from ‘Nine Measures’ by Yitzhak Levi (“Levitza”) published by the ‘Maarachot’ the Israel Defense Army Press Tel Aviv 1986 Presented by the PEACE Middle East Dialog Group Translated by Ami Isseroff   Translator’s Introduction Yitzhak Levi was chief of intelligence in Jerusalem for the Haganah at the time of the Deir Yassin massacre. The Jerusalem Intelligence Service (Shai) was credited with some uncanny intelligence feats – not always well used by the Haganah command. Two of the branch chiefs were Chaim Herzog and Yitzhak Navon, both later presidents of Israel. There is no doubt that what Levitza said about the things in which he was in a position to know are accurate. It is probable that … Continue reading

Posted in Deir Yassin ~ Ami Isseroff, PeaceWatch ~ Ami Isseroff | Leave a comment

Deir Yassin: Uri Milstein’s Account

Deir Yassin Uri Milstein’s Account Translated by Ami Isseroff Presented by the PEACE Middle East Dialog Group   from Uri Milstein ‘The War of Independence Vol. IV: Out of Crisis Came Decision, Zmora – Bitan, Tel-Aviv 1991 Translator’s Introduction Uri Milstein’s history forms much of the basis for the ZOA report denying the Deir Yassin Massacre. However, Milstein himself did not deny the massacre. He simply sought to discredit the left as much as possible, and to place as much blame as possible on the Haganah and Palmach. Milstein’s account includes many partial quotes, set up as if to prove a certain point. This is particularly evident in the quotes taken from Mordehai Gihon,  which Milstein brings to show that … Continue reading

Posted in Deir Yassin ~ Ami Isseroff, PeaceWatch ~ Ami Isseroff | Leave a comment

Deir Yassin: Letter from Yisrael Galili

Deir Yassin Letter from Yisrael Galili Authenticating Meir Pail’s Testimony Presented by the PEACE Middle East Dialog Group This letter, vouching for the authenticity of Meir Pail’s version of the Deir Yassin massacre, was sent by Yisrael Galili, former head of the Haganah, to the manager of cultural activities at Kibbutz Hulda on 22/4/78. Uri Milstein in his book on the War of Independence cast doubt on Pail’s testimony, as did Morton Klein in the report he prepared for the ZOA. Pail and Raanan (Commander of the Irgun) had given contradictory versions of the Deir Yassin operation in talks at Hulda, and the manager of cultural activities asked Galili who was correct. Translation  …photographs of the terrible occurrence. I gave … Continue reading

Posted in Deir Yassin ~ Ami Isseroff, PeaceWatch ~ Ami Isseroff | Leave a comment

Deir Yassin: Meir Pail’s Eyewitness Account

Deir Yassin Meir Pail’s Eyewitness Account Meir Pail and Ami Isseroff Presented by the PEACE Middle East Dialog Group Copyright 1998 by Dr. Meir Pail and Dr. Ami Isseroff. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in any form without the express permission of the authors. Based on an interview conducted October 1, 1998 by Ami Isseroff at the Yad Tabenkin Institute of the United Kibbutz Movement Seminar in Ramat Efal Israel. I was born in Jerusalem. My family moved to Holon in 1936 when I was ten years old. I joined the Palmach in 1943 after graduating from high school. In the Palmach, I participated in numerous operations including the bombing of the B’not Ya’akov Bridge (on the ‘night … Continue reading

Posted in Deir Yassin ~ Ami Isseroff, PeaceWatch ~ Ami Isseroff | Leave a comment

Deir Yassin: Map and Battle Plan

Deir Yassin Map and Battle Plan Presented by the PEACE Middle East Dialog Group Following is a map of the attack, apparently from Irgun archives. It is not clear if this is the plan of attack, or the attack as carried out. The map shows the house of the Mukhtar in the West, and the main direction of attack of the Lehi and Irgun. It also shows quarries between Deir Yassin and Givat Shaul. In one of these quarries, according to Meir Pail, about 25 prisoners were shot by the attackers.  

Posted in Deir Yassin ~ Ami Isseroff, PeaceWatch ~ Ami Isseroff | Leave a comment

Deir Yassin: The Evidence

Deir Yassin The Evidence Ami Isseroff 1999 Presented by the PEACE Middle East Dialog Group  Prologue The long struggle between Arabs and Jews has produced a sorry history of inhumanity. Jews can recall violence, massacres and bloody riots beginning in 1920 and even before. Arabs recall numerous incidents of The 1948 War – Israel’s War of Independence, including massacres and forcible exile, that were part of the great exodus, that was the genesis of the refugee problem. Both sides recall and recount the many terror attacks and reprisal raids and acts of violence and repression that have been part of our collective experience. If we are to make peace, then each side must acknowledge the actions committed in its name, … Continue reading

Posted in Deir Yassin ~ Ami Isseroff, PeaceWatch ~ Ami Isseroff | Leave a comment

Introduction: Coming to Terms with Deir Yassin

Webmaster’s note: These pages were compiled by the late Ami Isseroff in 1999. They were originally posted in Ariga’s PEACEWATCH section (www.ariga.com/peacewatch). After that website went offline in 2006 due to the death of its webmaster Robert Rosenberg, Ami moved the Peacewatch pages to a site of his own called Yu-Hu.com (middle-east.yu-hu.com/peacewatch/dy/). Yu-Hu.com itself has gone offline in the summer of 2012. As caretaker for Ami’s web work, I have decided to save this important work by republishing it here on IPI. ~ Wouter Brassé   Coming to Terms with Deir Yassin Ami Isseroff 1999-2002 Presented by the PEACE Middle East Dialog Group   Each side in the Mid-East has its own history of horrors, and is all too eager to point … Continue reading

Posted in Deir Yassin ~ Ami Isseroff, PeaceWatch ~ Ami Isseroff | Leave a comment