Netiva Ben-Yehuda. (Born 26 July 1928). Author, humorist, linguist and member of the Palmach , a pre-state-of-Israel underground military organization.
In 1946, when only 19, Ben-Yehuda enlisted in the Palmach and served as a commander of a sapper-unit. She underwent military training in demolition and bomb-disposal as well as in topography and scouting. She also trained recruits, transferred ammunition and escorted convoys.
Ben-Yehuda related her military experiences in three autobiographical works which she thinly disguised as novels. The pieces deal with some of the lighter moments of Israel's War of Independence (1948) and reflect her exceptionally witty and controversial personality.
Despite the Palmach's opposition to women fighting at the front, as a commander Ben-Yehuda participated in several battles performing sabotage operations. On February 11, 1948, she took part in a mission under fire that had a tremendous effect on her psychologically. She and her comrades set a mine to detonate a bus-load of Arabs. Thirty were killed. The ambush itself lasted merely seven minutes but the preparations took nearly four hours. In an extraordinary exposition of the events, Ben-Yehuda revealed her ambiguity toward warfare. Just before the operation started she had panicked and for a while had to be dragged on by a friend: "My heart was going to burst. I could not breathe. My legs would not carry me...I just felt like sitting there on the spot...pounding temples...and I saw something like a red veil while the veins in my eyes were popping brightly." By the time they reached the ambush site she was physically and emotionally drained. In a letter to her father, Ben-Yehuda admitted that she did not feel any pride in the success of this military operation. According to her account she performed what was expected of her as a soldier but in fact caused death and injury to living individuals with her own hands.
To her, the term "enemy" became a ridiculous one: "When humans commit murder, [the term] 'enemies' become suddenly human...On the other hand, the 'enemy' as well kills among us indiscriminately. I received an order and I carried it out. Yet I am confident that there is something evil, very evil [here], a terrible injustice to us and to them, to everyone...Don't worry. I'll continue to follow orders; otherwise we'll all be lost. But meanwhile don't be proud of us. There is no room for joy here. We should not rejoice when those who are hit by our bullets are falling dead."
This ambiguity runs like a thread throughout Ben-Yehuda's autobiographical works. The conflict between peace and war and between love and hate penetrates through numerous tales of heroism and selfless devotion. Ben-Yehuda's contribution to the history of Israel's War of Independence is notable for its integrity and sincerity. The way she depicted events and personalities is unrivaled by other historians of the period.
Non-annotated Selected Bibliography:
Ben-Yehuda, Netiva. 1948 -. [1948 - Between Calendars.] Jerusalem: Keter, 1981.
Ben-Yehuda, Netiva. Mibaad La'avotot. [Through the Binding Ropes.] Jerusalem: Domino Press, 1985.
Ben-Yehuda, Netiva. Keshepartza Hamilchama. [When the War Broke Out.] Jerusalem: Maxwell-Macmillen-Keter, 1991.
--Dina Ripsman Eylon
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