Haganah

The Haganah, meaning The Defense in Hebrew, was a Jewish paramilitary organization in the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948. It served as the main defense force of the Yishuv, the Jewish community in Palestine, and laid the groundwork for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Origins and role: It emerged in the wake of Arab attacks during the early 1920s and grew into the organized defense network of Jewish settlements. Though initially informal, by 1931 it had a centralized command under the Jewish Agency and coordinated defense, intelligence, and border security, while maintaining relations with the British authorities.

Structure and activities: The Haganah built up a standing reserve of fighters, trained in urban and rural defense, and conducted operations during the Arab Revolt (1936–1939). In World War II, it expanded and created the Palmach in 1941 as its elite striking force. The organization also organized arms procurement to supply Jewish communities during the mandate.

1947–1949 civil war and independence: During the 1947–1949 civil war in Mandatory Palestine, the Haganah led operations to defend Jewish communities, expand territory, and organize refugee flows. Following the 1948 declaration of the State of Israel, Haganah elements were integrated with other underground groups to form the Israel Defense Forces, effectively becoming the army of the new state. The Palmach continued as the backbone of the IDF's combat forces before being absorbed into the larger organization.

Legacy: The Haganah's organizational experience, command structures, and military tradition formed the basis of the IDF, and its members played major roles in the early Israeli military leadership. It remains a central element in histories of the founding of Israel.