How Illegal Jewish Militias Became Israel’s IDF

Before Israel became a state, Jewish defense in Mandatory Palestine wasn’t one unified force—it was three rival underground militias with different politics, tactics, and red lines: the Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi.

This story follows how Arab unrest, British rule, World War II, and the refugee crisis pushed them from bitter infighting to uneasy cooperation—and finally into a single army. It also traces the last, violent test of unity in 1948, when the new state demanded one chain of command. 

Britain did the geopolitcal equivalent of farting in an elevator before getting out. You mentioned the ‘eccentric’British Officer who trained the night squads including Dayan and other future Israeli Army leaders in 1939 was General Orde Wingate, who led the ‘Chindits’ fighting the Japanese behind their lines in Burma. 

I understand that he is quoted as a foreword in the IDF handbook to every Israeli entry the IDF. Would like to see you continue this story with info on the Palmach, and especially on the contributions made by my father, who was a Machal pilot from New York. 

He and 5 other captains flew the C-46's smuggled from the USA that ferried guns and grenades from Czechoslovakia to Israel. Without the help of these 6 airplane crews, each making many trips between Zatec, Czechoslovakia and Israel under very dangerous conditions,, there would be no Israel today.

There are several books that touch on this subject to varying degrees, but a video, or even a full flength movie would be well warranted, and well received.