The end of the Cooperation with the British
The Yishuv leadership and the Hagana HQ thought it a necessity to establish a regular, independent unit to defend the Jews in Eretz Israel without depending on the British army.
During the Second World War, the circumstances made it possible to turn the Hagana into a security force that would help in fulfilling the Zionist policy. One of the practical manifestations of the change was the establishment of the Palmach in May 1941. The Yishuv leadership and the Hagana HQ thought it a necessity to establish a regular, independent unit to defend the Jews in Eretz Israel without depending on the British army. This dependency increased with the fear of the German invasion, and the threats about the Arabs using it as an opportunity to conspire against the Yishuv.
The establishment of the Palmach as a national unit subordinated to the 'National HQ' was preceded by earlier attempts of similar nature during the 'Arab Uprising.' They were quickly dismantled. The common interest of the British and the Yishuv – fighting against Germany – formed the cooperation framework that gave the Palmach a legitimate, organizational framework during its first phase. In this framework, the Palmach received financial support, training, and even participated in operational activity, such as raids in the northern border. The British were not blind to the significance of establishing the Palmach as an independent force. Even during that period of cooperation, they tried to obtain information about Palmach members, their names and residence, without much success.
At the same time, the volunteering Yishuv members faced a security dilemma: Who do we join? -The British army, and later on the 'Jewish Brigade', in order to participate in the world war against the Nazis, or the Palmach, in order to nurture the self-defense force? This dilemma intensified in late 1942, when the British stopped helping the Palmach, with their victory in the Western dessert. The joint training camp in kibbutz Mishmar-Haemek shut down. The Palmach was forced to go underground.
Viewing the unit as the basis for an independent Jewish army stood at the base of the kibbutz movements' decision to help maintain the Palmach from August 1942, by arranging "Labor Camps" that combined training with farmstead work.
The establishment of the Palmach as a national unit subordinated to the 'National HQ' was preceded by earlier attempts of similar nature during the 'Arab Uprising.' They were quickly dismantled. The common interest of the British and the Yishuv – fighting against Germany – formed the cooperation framework that gave the Palmach a legitimate, organizational framework during its first phase. In this framework, the Palmach received financial support, training, and even participated in operational activity, such as raids in the northern border. The British were not blind to the significance of establishing the Palmach as an independent force. Even during that period of cooperation, they tried to obtain information about Palmach members, their names and residence, without much success.
At the same time, the volunteering Yishuv members faced a security dilemma: Who do we join? -The British army, and later on the 'Jewish Brigade', in order to participate in the world war against the Nazis, or the Palmach, in order to nurture the self-defense force? This dilemma intensified in late 1942, when the British stopped helping the Palmach, with their victory in the Western dessert. The joint training camp in kibbutz Mishmar-Haemek shut down. The Palmach was forced to go underground.
Viewing the unit as the basis for an independent Jewish army stood at the base of the kibbutz movements' decision to help maintain the Palmach from August 1942, by arranging "Labor Camps" that combined training with farmstead work.