What Happened?

21 April 1947: A police patrol opened fire on a suspicious van that did not stop at a checkpoint in Petah Tikva. The van sped away from the police, who gave chase. It was later found abandoned in a sand track leading from Rehov Rotschild.

The police recovered two road mines from the van, two incomplete mines, four electric coils and detonator sets, and nine filled mine cases. Police reported that the van held two men and a girl.

This attack followed deadly raids, grenade attacks, and mine ambushes by the Irgun a few days earlier. This attack was also a response to the grenade-suicide of convicted Israeli terrorists (Moshe Barazani and Meir Feinstein) who were due to be hanged in the morning.

Other attacks on this day by Irgun include the Nebi Samuel Grenade attack and Ramle-Aqil Failed Mine Ambush.

References

Bell, J. B. (1977). Terror out of Zion: The fight for Israeli Independence. St. Martin’s Press.

Pictorial and Evidence

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