The Jewish Resistance Movement
Starting in 1945, the various Jewish resistance movements decided to unite forces against the British authorities. After World War II ended, the British did not allow Jewish immigrants to enter Palestine. It was decided to establish an organization that would coordinate the operations of the various resistance movements. In order to do so, a civilian committee known as “Committee X” was established. This committee consisted of six members, representatives of the various political streams. Every operation was brought to the committee for approval without specifying the exact details.
In October 1945, the first big operation of the Jewish Resistance Movement took place. A Palmach force broke into a British detention camp and released more than 200 illegal immigrants detained by the British.
During the years of the Jewish Resistance Movement’s existence, many operations were carried out. Notable among them were the bombing of railroads and train stations on the “Night of the Trains”, attacks on British police stations, the bombing of dozens of bridges around the country in the “Night of the Bridges” and the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
In August 1946 the leaders of the Haganah decided to leave the Jewish Resistance Movement because of Operation Agatha and the King David hotel bombing (which caused the deaths of innocent civilians). The united resistance movement disbanded and each of the founding groups continued operating according to its own policy.