Major Farran's Hat: The Untold Story of the Struggle to Establish the Jewish StateIn May 1947 a sixteen-year-old Jewish activist named Alexander Rubowitz was abducted in broad daylight from the streets of Jerusalem. At the abduction scene, a gray hat was found, purportedly belonging to Major Roy Farran, a decorated World War II officer who was in charge of British counterterrorism in Palestine. As evidence mounted against Farran, the Zionist underground swore vengeance. The episode precipitated a series of nail-biting twists and turns that had far-reaching consequences. An engaging mix of true crime and polemical narrative history, peopled by a cast of luminaries including Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, Menachem Begin, and Golda Meir, Major Farran's Hat investigates shady violence, scandaluos cover-ups, and political expediency. It also explores why Britain lost Palestine, as well as how its counterinsurgency and diplomatic strategies collided so disastrously. By exposing Britain's legacy in the Middle East, this historical thriller echoes today's war on terror and pointedly illustrates the circumstances surrounding the birth of the State of Israel. |
Contents
Abduction in Jerusalem 1 | 1 |
Jewish Rebels Imperial Warriors andColonial Policemen 10 | 10 |
Roy Farran and the Special Squads 59 | 59 |
CoverUp and Scandal 98 | 98 |
Court Martial 140 | 140 |
The Heros Return andthe Terrorists Revenge 175 | 175 |
Epilogue 208
| 208 |
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Common terms and phrases
acting action activity Alexander Rubowitz Arab armed army arrest arrived asked assistant attack August authorities bomb Britain British called charge civil Colonel Colonial Office command Counter-insurgency court Creech Jones Cunningham Daily Daily Telegraph documents East escape evidence experience Express Farran Fearnley-Whittingstall February Fergusson German given Gray Hagana hand head held Inspector intelligence Irgun issued Italy January Jerusalem Jewish Jewish Agency Jews July June killed known later LEHI letter London Major March Memoirs Middle military Montgomery murder November October operations organisation Palestine Police Palestine Post person Police Force political question response returned Royal Scotland Yard Secretary September Service soldiers soon squads statement success taken Telegraph terrorism terrorists told took trial United wanted Winged Dagger York