Description:

D. Ben-Gurion 1955 TLS to M. Dayan: "I see as a tremendous asset the full trust our people place in the army. Any rumors to the contrary are a danger to our security…"

A 1p typed letter in Hebrew boldly signed by David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973), then Israeli Minister of Defense. The signature in bold, black ink measures 3.75" x 2" alone. Dated April 5, 1955. On a single leaf of Emblem of Israel stationery. Bearing several dockets or other inscriptions in pencil and colored pencil recto and verso. Double hole punched along the right margin. Expected wear including a horizontal transmittal fold, else near fine. The letter measures 6" x 7.875." Accompanied by a partial English translation. The letter and the translation are currently displayed side by side on a mat measuring 13.875" x 11" x .125" overall. (The successful buyer can opt to keep the mat or discard it, according to preference.)

Ben-Gurion wrote this letter to the seasoned military commander Moshe Dayan (1915-1981), who since 1953 had served as Chief of the General Staff. Other individuals copied on the letter included Moshe Sharett (1894-1965), Prime Minister of Israel from January 1954 to November 1955; and Pinchas Rosen (1887-1978), the 1st Israeli Minister of Justice who would serve three consecutive terms between 1948-1961.

Ben-Gurion wrote, translated in part:

"Commander,

I see as a tremendous asset the full trust our people place in the army. Any rumors to the contrary are a danger to our security, and an obstacle to the army, and I believe that you and your subordinates will do all you can to ensure this trust.

As a commander attains a higher rank, his responsibility with respect to information that relates to security matters are that much more important - he cannot even impart this information to his close friends. The soldier as a soldier is at the behest of his country and its institutions, and it's only to them that he owes his allegiance…"

It is unknown whether Ben-Gurion was speaking rhetorically or actually chastising Dayan for some real indiscretion. Yet looking at historical context shows the extent to which national security issues were front and center in early 1955, and could explain Ben-Gurion's gravity. Relations between Palestinian Arabs and Jewish settlers and immigrants in the region were strained following several recent incidents. Operation Susannah, launched by Israeli armed forces in the spring of 1954, covertly recruited Egyptian Jews to carry out terror attacks against Egyptian, British, and American civilian targets in Cairo and Alexandria. The operation was a public relations nightmare and resulted in the resignation of incumbent Minister of Defense Pinhas Lavon.

In late February and early March, the Israeli armed forces launched Operation Black Arrow, an attack on an Egyptian base near Gaza undertaken by 150 Israeli paratroopers. Approximately 38 Egyptian soldiers and 8 Israelis were killed during the mission. This engagement signaled an escalation in tension between Egypt and Israel and anticipated the larger conflict which would become the Suez Crisis of autumn 1956.

To Ben-Gurion, Israel's national security was of paramount importance. The fledgling Israeli state was so vulnerable that foreign aggression, shown in any form or on any scale, needed to be combated decisively. Moshe Dayan also prioritized the Israeli armed forces. As Chief of Staff from 1953-1958, Dayan oversaw the extensive reorganization of the Israeli Army. Improvements included the expansion of combat units, intelligence units, and training units; the establishment of military academies and redirection of efforts toward youth recruitment; and shifting military provisioning from the armed forces to civilian sources. Israel's army would be larger, leaner, and more skilled as a result.

Ben-Gurion had filled Lavon's vacancy as Israeli Minister of Defense barely two months earlier, in late February 1955. Ben-Gurion would act as Israeli Minister of Defense until the conclusion of his second term as Prime Minister, in June 1963.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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