Albert Einstein and a group of eminent intellectuals protested against the visit of Menachim Begin, while he was in the United States in 1948 on a fund raising campaign, for his role in the Deir Yassin massacre. Their protest letter (published in the NY Times):
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"Among the most disturbing political
phenomena of our time is the emergence in the newly created State
of Israel of the "Freedom Party" (Tnuat Haherut), a
political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political
philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties.
It was formed out of the membership and following of the former
Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization
in Palestine. ...Before irreparable damage is done by way of
financial contributions...the American public must be informed
as to the record and objectives of <Mr.Begin>'s and his
movement. ...Today they speak of freedom, democracy and anti-imperialism,
whereas until recently they openly preached the doctrine of the
Fascist state."
"A shocking example was their behaviour
in the Arab village of Deir Yassin. This village, off the main
roads and surrounded by Jewish lands, had taken no part in the
war, and had even fought off Arab bands which wanted to use the
village as their base. On April 9 (THE NEW YORK TIMES) terrorist
bands attacked this peaceful village, killed most of its inhabitants--240
men, women and children--and kept a few of them alive to parade
them as captives through the streets of Jerusalem. Most of the
Jewish community was horrified at the deed, and the Jewish Agency
sent a telegram of apology to King Abdulla of Transjordan. But
the terrorists far from being ashamed of their act, were proud
of this massacre, publicised it widely, and invited all the foreign
correspondents present in the country to view the heaped corpses
and the general havoc at Deir Yassin. The Deir Yassin incident
exemplifies the character of the Freedom Party."
"It is all the more tragic that
the top leadership of American Zionism has refused to campaign
against Begin's efforts, or to even expose to its own constituents
the dangers to Israel from support to Begin...."
"The undersigned therefore take
this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning
Begin and his party; and of urging all concerned not to support
this latest manifestation of fascism. "
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(It is the same fascist Freedom Party
that has re-emerged as the Likud Party, which has been ruling
Israel for the last several years. At least three of its members
who have occupied the Prime Ministerial post--Menachem Begin,
Yitzhak Shamir and Aerial Sharon--have blood on their hands.
Sharon, the present Israeli Prime Minister, is accused of having
had a direct hand in the massacres at Qibiya in 1953, at Sabra
and Shatila in 1982 and at Jenein in 2002.)
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