Jewish Security Prisoners in the Early State of Israel: The Kingdom of Israel Underground as a Case Study of the Challenge of Sovereignty

Abstract

In May 1953, a Jewish underground movement was exposed that had conducted terrorist attacks in Israel. Many of its members originated from the Lehi group and were part of the Sulam group headed by Israel Eldad (Sheib), a former Lehi leader. They believed in the vision of the Kingdom of Israel and felt that the State of Israel was misguidedly hindering its realization. After their arrest, they were prosecuted under the controversial 1948 Prevention of Terrorism Act; however, they refused to recognize the court’s authority. After being convicted and imprisoned, they also challenged the Prison Service, and confronted its employees, sometimes even leading to violence. Although in previous incidents the authorities had found it difficult to deal with security prisoners, no clear guidelines had been decided on. The ministerial, judicial and security echelons, including the prison system, were forced to adopt ad hoc responses and more than once exceeded accepted norms. This response was partly the result of pressure from various sources in the media, in politics and elsewhere. This reflected the weakness of the authorities in dealing with these prisoners and their ambivalence on the issue. On the one hand, a determined effort was made but on the other hand, leniency was shown that in the end manifested in early clemency.