Exodus - Leon Uris [303]
Soon a corps of lawyers had the affair so twisted up with contradictory stories that it was impossible to unscramble the facts. The Israelis in Naples added the final touch of confusion by planting the story that it was actually a Jewish ship stolen by the Arabs and that Fawdzi was a Jewish spy.
Colonel Fawdzi took the only course open. He faked an elaborate suicide and disappeared, never to be heard of again—apparently to the regret of nobody.
Two days after the transfer of arms, the corvettes, now flying the Star of David, brought Barak home in a triumphant entry to Israel.
Chapter Eleven
ARI BEN CANAAN RECEIVED orders to report to Tel Aviv. Headquarters was located in a pension in Ramat Gan. Ari was surprised at the sight of it. The Star of David flew atop the building and uniformed guards of the new army of Israel were everywhere. Identification passes were demanded by the security police before entry was permitted. Outside the headquarters were a hundred jeeps and motorcycles, and there was a military bustle and briskness all about.
Inside, the big switchboard rang constantly. Ari was led through the operations room where huge blown-up maps pinpointed the battle lines and the message center where a battery of radios communicated with the front lines and the settlements. As Ari looked around him he reflected that it was a far cry from the mobile one-desk headquarters of the Haganah.
Avidan, the former head of the Haganah, had given up official command to the young leaders in their mid-twenties and early thirties who had had experience as British officers or were seasoned, as Ari was, in long years of Arab fighting. Avidan now acted in the capacity of liaison between the Army and the provisional government, and although he held no official post he was still a power in general policy as “commander emeritus.”
He greeted Ari warmly. It was difficult for Ari to tell if Avidan was tired or had just awakened, or if he was morose or happy, for Avidan always wore the same solemn expression. As they went into his office he ordered all telephone calls or other interruptions withheld.
“This is quite a fancy store you have here,” Ari said.
“Not much like the old days,” Avidan agreed. “It is hard for me to get over it myself. I drive up here many mornings thoroughly expecting the British to sweep down and throw us all into Acre jail.”
“None of us expected you to retire yourself.”
“This army and running a big war is a young man’s job. Let me argue policy in my old age.”
“How goes the war?” Ari asked.
“Jerusalem ... Latrun. There is our problem. We won’t be able to hold out too much longer inside the Old City. God knows how long the New City can stand it if we don’t get through to them soon. Anyhow ... you’ve certainly done a job for us in your district.”
“We’ve been lucky.”
“Safed wasn’t luck and neither are those magnificent children at Gan Dafna luck. Don’t be modest, Ari. We’ve got children under siege at Ben Shemen too ... the Iraqis won’t dare take a try at them. Ari, Kawukji is still in the central Galilee ... we want to get rid of the bastard. That’s why I asked you to come down here. I want to extend your command and I want you to take charge of the operation. In a matter of a few weeks we should be able to get a battalion of men up there to you, along with some new stuff.”
“How do you figure it?”
“If we take Nazareth I think we’ve got it all. We’ll have the whole Galilee then, all the roads from east to west.”
“What about the Arab villages in the area?”
“Mostly Christian, as you know. They’ve already sent delegations down here to see us. They’ve asked Kawukji to leave. At any rate, they’re not interested in fighting.”
“Good.”
“Before we proceed with the planning of this operation we want you to secure your area completely, Ari.”
“Fort Esther?” Ari asked.
Avidan nodded.
“I need artillery to take Fort Esther—I wrote you that. At least three or four