The Haj - Leon Uris [107]
‘Without muddy hands,’ Gideon said.
‘Without muddy hands,’ Brompton agreed.
‘You’re a bad card player, Colonel,’ Gideon said. ‘What’s really on your mind?’
Brompton cleared his throat defensively. ‘I’m about to tell you something you already know. Your situation in Jerusalem is impossible. The Etzion Bloc is finished. The Jews in the Old City are doomed. Perhaps the Jewish Agency says these are acceptable losses, then what? If you manage to hang on until May 15, when we get out, you’re looking at the Arab Legion within one day’s march of Jerusalem. With the Egyptians coming in from the south and the Syrians and Iraqis from the north, they plan a very tumultuous convergence on Jerusalem. Gideon, Plan D is dangerous ... nay, suicidal.’
Gideon did not speak of his own vigorous opposition to Plan D. Undoubtedly the British command was of the same opinion and was wary of the consequences of the Yishuv’s stubbornness.
‘I am authorized to speak for the British Government from the prime minister on down and to personally implore you to take your population out of Jerusalem.’
‘Why this sudden pang of conscience?’
‘Straight on, Gideon?’
‘Straight on.’
‘Once an Arab has an upper hand in battle, he has only one driving force—total annihilation. We are obliged to go on record as having warned you to evacuate West Jerusalem because we will not take the responsibility for the massacre of twenty, thirty, forty, eighty thousand civilians.’
‘Do you fear for us as human beings or do you really fear being held up to the world with blood on your hands?’
‘As I said earlier, we are split down the middle. But in any event, we do not store arms in cathedrals and we are not Nazis.’
‘Yes, I understand you,’ Gideon said.
‘Then surely you know there is an eighty percent chance of the greatest single massacre in two thousand years.’
‘We are so aware.’
‘For God’s sake, Gideon, you must impress this on Ben-Gurion. How can he live as a man after he has permitted such a thing to happen? How can any of your dreams of nationhood survive such a catastrophe?’
‘I’ll certainly give the Old Man your message. There’s a problem, you see. The same problem we had in Europe. We have no place to evacuate to. Or am I to assume that your warning comes along with a magnanimous gesture by His Majesty’s Government to open your arms and take in a hundred thousand Jews or a half-million Jews in the event of an all-out Arab victory? We don’t have to emigrate to England. What about sending us to Uganda or India or the West Indies? Perhaps you can convince the Americans or Canadians to give us refuge. Or how about all the rest of the sanctimonious Christian democracies. Ah, Colonel, you are a naïve man. We Jews know that not a single tear will be shed over our demise.’
Gideon arose and made for the door.
‘Gideon.’
‘Yes, Brompton.’
‘I am personally very sorry about this.’
‘Never mind. Being a Jew has always meant that we are a people who dwell alone.’
The Yishuv’s answer came instantly. Ben-Gurion ordered the Bab el Wad opened. Heretofore the Palmach had operated only in small units, squads, and platoons. The Jewish command set into motion Operation Nachshon, named for the first man with Moses who leaped into the Red Sea to test the waters. The Har El (God’s Hill) Brigade of the Palmach was given the gut-wrenching mission of opening the Bab el Wad long enough to get some supply convoys through to Jerusalem. At the same time, the Yishuv started building secret roads to bypass Latrun and run around the back of the Bab el Wad.
The most strategic position