David Shaltiel

David Shaltiel (1903-1969) is most well known for being the district commander of the Haganah in Jerusalem during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. He was born in an orthodox Jewish family in Hamburg. He was in 1936 captured by Gestapo and sat three years in prison after which he emigrated to Palestine.

He was Haganah's link to the Jewish undergrounds, Irgun and Lehi, and helped them coordinate many missions with the Haganah. Among them the widely condemned attack at Deir Yassin. He was also the mastermind behind Operation Kedem which goal was to capture East Jerusalem. The mission was carried out July 8, 1948 by Irgun troops and was a total failure.

External Links

• http://www.hamburg.de/Behoerden/Pressestelle/sefarden/39-48/45.htm (in German)
• http://www.etzel.org.il/english/ac19.htm