Shmuel Katz
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Shmuel Katz (Hebrew: שמואל כ"ץ, born Samuel Katz, December 9, 1914, also known by the nickname Mooki (Hebrew: מוקי)) is an Israeli writer, historian and journalist [1]. He was a member of the first Knesset. He is also known for his research on Jewish leader Zeev Jabotinsky.
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[edit] Early life
Katz was born in 1914 in South Africa. In 1930 he joined the Betar movement. In 1936 he moved to Palestine and joined the Irgun. In 1939 he was sent to London by Jabotinsky to speak on issues concerning Palestine. He was the editor of the paper The Jewish Standard and wrote for the Daily Express and the Jerusalem Post.
[edit] Political career
In 1946 Katz came back to Israel and joined the HQ of Etzel where he was active in the aspect of foreign relations. He was one of the seven members of the high command of the Irgun,[2] as well as a spokesman of the organization.[3][4]
In 1948 Katz assisted in the bringing of the Altalena ship to the shores of Israel.
Shmuel Katz was one of the founders of the Herut political party, co-founder of the Movement for Greater Israel in 1967, and in 1971 helped to create Americans for a Safe Israel.
In 1977 Katz became "Adviser to the Prime Minister of Information Abroad" to Menachem Begin. He accompanied Begin on two trips to Washington and was asked to explain some points to President Carter. [5] He quit this task on January 5, 1978 because of differences with the Cabinet over peace proposals [6] with Egypt.[7]
[edit] Writing
Katz wrote the Revisionist Zionist book Battleground: Fact and Fantasy in Palestine. In this book Katz describes the roots of the Arab-Israeli conflict and claims to expose anti-Zionist myths about it. Katz attacks what he calls propaganda used by Arab sources about the roots of the conflict and attempts to refute them and argues "that the Arab refugees were not driven from Palestine by anyone. The vast majority left, whether of their own free will or at the orders or exhortations of their leaders, always with the same reassurance-that their departure would help in the war against Israel."[8]
Another project for which Katz dedicated many years of his life is the two volume biography of Jabotinsky of 1792 pages, entitled "Lone Wolf, A Biography of Valadimir (Ze'ev) Jabotinsky." [9]
[edit] Published books
- Days of Fire (1966)
- Battleground (1973)
- Lo Oz Velo Hadar (No Courage and No Glory) (1981) (English version: "The Hollow Peace")
- Lone Wolf: A Two-Volume Biography of Vladimir (Ze’ev) Jabotinsky (1993)
[edit] References
- ^ Library Journal
- ^ 'France Accused Of Supporting Palestine Terrorists: Jewish Leader Tells Of Murder Plot', The Times, Friday, March 18, 1966; pg. 11; Issue 56583; col F.
- ^ Seliktar, 2002, p. 39.
- ^ Terence Smith, New York Times, June 27, 1977
- ^ The New York Times, January 6 1978, Adviser to Begin quits
- ^ Michael Knipe, 'Settlements continue to spring up in Sinai', The Times, Friday, January 6, 1978; pg. 4; Issue 60203; col G.
- ^ Masalha, 2000, p. 80.
- ^ Katz, Shmuel, Battleground, Shapolsky Pub ISBN 0-9646886-3-8 , page 13
- ^ Review of Lone Wolf
- Masalha, Nur (2000). Imperial Israel and the Palestinians: The Politics of Expansion. Pluto Press. ISBN 0-7453-1615-8
- Seliktar, Ofira (2002). Divided We Stand: American Jews, Israel, and the Peace Process. Praeger/Greenwood. ISBN 0-275-97408-1
