Bidspirit auction | “Isolate the Men of Hysteria

“Isolate the Men of Hysteria and Surrender” – a particularly forceful Lehi (Lohamei Herut Israel) broadside denouncing cooperation with the British - “Isolate the Men of Hysteria and Surrender!” – a sharply worded statement by the Lehi (Fighters for the Freedom of Israel), published in the underground newspaper HaMa’as, dated 17 Av 5707 – August 3, 1947. This issue launches a scathing attack on the leadership of the organized Yishuv, especially targeting Mapai and the Jewish Agency, accusing them of collaborating with the British - particularly in handing over young Jewish fighters. It expresses a profound sense of betrayal by the Yishuv leadership and its supporters, who, “in the name of the law, ” are turning over their own brethren to a foreign regime. Under the subheading “All Because of Two British Sergeants”- a clear reference to the Sergeants Affair, in which two British sergeants were kidnapped and executed by the Irgun in July 1947 in retaliation for the hanging of three Irgun fighters by the British- this issue presents a long list of crimes committed by the British themselves: cold-blooded murder of Jews, with the assertion “the British are guilty of the murder of millions, ” as well as the bombing of homes, deportations, mass arrests, the sinking of the Struma, beating to death of Jewish refugees with clubs, the kidnapping, torture, murder, and desecration of the body of Alexander Rubowitz, and more. All this is cited to highlight the hostile and oppressive nature of the British regime, with the main accusation being that instead of fighting the enemy, the Jewish leadership is cooperating with it. Lehi protests that the public is being urged to turn against the underground fighters, and that certain groups are condemning the fighters rather than the British enemy. The leaflet especially criticizes the Haganah command, which is accused of joining the campaign of incitement and persecution. Size: 48 × 33 cm. Fold marks. Good condition.