King David Hotel bombing

The King David Hotel bombing (July 22, 1946) was a bombing attack against the British government of Palestine by members of Irgun —a militant Zionist group.

Related Topics:
July 22 - 1946 - Bombing - British - Palestine - Irgun - Zionist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Irgun exploded a bomb at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, which had been the base for the British Secretariat, the military command and a branch of the Criminal Investigation Division (police). 91 people were killed, most of them civilians: 28 British, 41 Arab, 17 Jewish, and 5 other. Around 45 people were injured.

Related Topics:
King David Hotel - Jerusalem - Military - British - Arab - Jew

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The attack was initially ordered by David Ben Gurion, who was in the United States, but he later changed his mind and ordered the bombing to be cancelled. But Menachem Begin, the head of Irgun, went ahead anyway. Both Ben Gurion and Begin would later become Israeli Prime Ministers. The attack was commanded by Yosef Avni and Yisrael Levi.

Related Topics:
David Ben Gurion - United States - Menachem Begin - Israel - Yosef Avni - Yisrael Levi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The attack on the hotel was the largest attack against the British in the history of the Mandate. Some claim this act should be considered in light of the escalating violence in the region, and the continuing conflict between the three main forces in the region: British, Jewish, and Arab. In particular, the attack was made in retaliation for the British Operation Agatha.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~