Ezra Danin
Encyclopedia
Ezra Danin was the head of the Arab section of the SHAI
, the intelligence arm of the Hagana, Israeli politician and an orange grower. Danin specialized in Arab affairs.
.
During the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939, Danin was the leader of a spy network for the Hagana in the district of Samaria. In 1940, He formed the Arab section of the SHAI
and remained their until 1948. He was instrumental in the formation of the "Syrian Platoon" of the Palmach
in 1940-41, whose goal was to infiltrate Syria
and Lebanon
who were under Franch Vichy
rule.
Danin accompanied Golda Meir
, the Jewish Agency representative, in her meetings with King Abdullah of Jordan
, in the moths leading to the establishment of the State of Israel. Together with Eliahu Sasson they participated in the 17 November 1947 meeting at Naharayim
on the river Jordan. The Danin-Sasson reports were then produced based on this meeting.
On May 11, 1948, three days before the proclamation of the independence of Israel Danin again accompanied Meir to Amman
, trying to persuade Abdullah not to join the coming Arab-Israeli war of 1948
.
According to Nur Masalha and Benny Morris
Danin was a member of the various unofficial Transfer Committee
s, from May to August 1948.
Danin then served as a Director of the Foreign Ministry's Middle East Department under Golda Meir.
Danin published two books: a collection of documents captured from Arab gangs in the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939 and an Autobiography titled ``Unconditional Zionist" (written with Yaakov Sharet).
SHAI
Shai , established in 1940, was the intelligence and counter-espionage arm of the Haganah and the forebear of the Military Intelligence Directorate in Mandate Palestine....
, the intelligence arm of the Hagana, Israeli politician and an orange grower. Danin specialized in Arab affairs.
Biography
Danin was born to Yechezkel Danin Socholovsky, one of the founders of Tel AvivTel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
During the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939, Danin was the leader of a spy network for the Hagana in the district of Samaria. In 1940, He formed the Arab section of the SHAI
SHAI
Shai , established in 1940, was the intelligence and counter-espionage arm of the Haganah and the forebear of the Military Intelligence Directorate in Mandate Palestine....
and remained their until 1948. He was instrumental in the formation of the "Syrian Platoon" of the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
in 1940-41, whose goal was to infiltrate Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
who were under Franch Vichy
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
rule.
Danin accompanied Golda Meir
Golda Meir
Golda Meir ; May 3, 1898 – December 8, 1978) was a teacher, kibbutznik and politician who became the fourth Prime Minister of the State of Israel....
, the Jewish Agency representative, in her meetings with King Abdullah of Jordan
Abdullah I of Jordan
Abdullah I bin al-Hussein, King of Jordan [‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Husayn] عبد الله الأول بن الحسين born in Mecca, Second Saudi State, was the second of three sons of Sherif Hussein bin Ali, Sharif and Emir of Mecca and his first wife Abdiyya bint Abdullah...
, in the moths leading to the establishment of the State of Israel. Together with Eliahu Sasson they participated in the 17 November 1947 meeting at Naharayim
Naharayim
Naharayim is a site on the border between Israel and Jordan where an hydroelectric power-plant was established in 1930. The Yarmuk River flows into the Jordan River at Naharayim. The plant, established by Pinchas Rutenberg, produced much of the energy consumed in the British Mandate of Palestine...
on the river Jordan. The Danin-Sasson reports were then produced based on this meeting.
On May 11, 1948, three days before the proclamation of the independence of Israel Danin again accompanied Meir to Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, trying to persuade Abdullah not to join the coming Arab-Israeli war of 1948
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
.
According to Nur Masalha and Benny Morris
Benny Morris
Benny Morris is professor of History in the Middle East Studies department of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in the city of Be'er Sheva, Israel...
Danin was a member of the various unofficial Transfer Committee
Transfer Committee
The Transfer Committee was set up, unofficially, by non-Cabinet members of the first government of Israel in May 1948, with the aim of overseeing the removal of Palestinian Arabs from their towns and villages, and preventing their return...
s, from May to August 1948.
Danin then served as a Director of the Foreign Ministry's Middle East Department under Golda Meir.
Danin published two books: a collection of documents captured from Arab gangs in the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939 and an Autobiography titled ``Unconditional Zionist" (written with Yaakov Sharet).