The Making of an Army <\/h2>\n The Palmach (strike forces) <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n![\"palmah3\"](\"http:\/\/www.zionism.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/palmah3.jpg\")
\nThe Palmach, the strike forces, headed by Yigal Alon and Yitzhak Sadeh, was the elite fighting force of the Haganah. The Palmach was established in 1941 while World War II was waging and there was the threat that German forces would conquer the Land of Israel from the south. In June 1941, Palmach fighters served as guides for the British forces that entered Syria. With the advance of the German army in North Africa, from Libya to Egypt and the fear that the Germans might conquer the Land of Israel, the British army helped train and equip six Palmach companies so they would be able to fight the Germans. The cooperation between the British and the Palmach ended at the end of 1942 and from then until the establishment of the State of Israel, the Palmach functioned as an underground army. In order to survive, the members of the organization had to work and train. They lived in camps and kibbutzes, working half the month and training the rest of the month.
\n![\"palmah\"](\"http:\/\/www.zionism.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/palmah-1.jpg\")
\nWhen World War II ended, the Palmach joined the Haganah’s struggle against the British Mandate. Its people played an important role in the illegal immigration and sailing ships carrying the immigrants to the Land of Israel. With the outbreak of the War of Independence, Palmach forces took part in the defense of isolated settlements and fought to enable freedom of movement of the Jewish Yishuv on the roads of the land. Later, with the establishment of the State of Israel, Palmach soldiers participated in the struggle against Arab terror and in the military preparation before the invasion of Arab armies.
\nOn November 7, 1948,the Palmach command was disbanded by order of Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and its brigades became IDF brigades.\n<\/p>\n
![\"palmah5\"](\"http:\/\/www.zionism.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/palmah5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>
Igaal Alon\/h3>
\n![\"alon\"](\"http:\/\/www.zionism.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/alon-1.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n\n The Black Sabbath <\/h3>\n
On Shabbat, June 29, 1946, the British carried out an unprecedented extensive military and political operation against the Hebrew Yishuv in the Land of Israel. It was in response to the Yishuv’s struggle and revolt against the decrees of the White Paper.
The Black Sabbath <\/h3>\n
On Shabbat, June 29, 1946, the British carried out an unprecedented extensive military and political operation against the Hebrew Yishuv in the Land of Israel. It was in response to the Yishuv’s struggle and revolt against the decrees of the White Paper.