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Museums in Israel: Etzel Museum

IZL Museum

The museum of the I.Z.L. in 1947-1948, dedicated to the memory of Amihai Paglin (“Gidi”), the operation officer of the I.Z.L., is a memorial to the 41 fighters of the Irgun Zvai Leumi (I.Z.L.) - the National Military Organization (Etzel in Hebrew) - who fell in the campaign to conquer Jaffa. The I.Z.L. was a Jewish underground organization active in Palestine from 1931-1948, which retaliated against the anti-Jewish terrorist attacks by the Arabs and rebelled again the British regime’s “White Paper” policy that imposed restrictions on immigration to Palestine, condemning the Yishuv to remain a perpetual minority in its own homeland.

The museum exhibit is devoted to I.Z.L. combat during the War of Independence, from 29 November 1947 - the date of the UN resolution on the establishment of a Jewish State and an Arab State within the confines of Eretz Israel - until the dissolution of the I.Z.L. on June 1, 1948. Integration of I.Z.L. members in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was set forth in an agreement signed between the I.Z.L.’s Commander-in-Chief, Menachem Begin, and Israel Galili on behalf of the Israeli government, and its soldiers enlisted in the just-established IDF. I.Z.L. headquarters, and several of the I.Z.L. united carried on with their activities in Jerusalem, which, according to the partition resolution, was proclaimed international territory. Final dissolution of the Jerusalem regiment of the I.Z.L. took place on 22 September 1948 when they officially joined the IDF.

Museum of the I.Z.L. is located at 38 HaMelech George St. (King George Street) in Tel Aviv.
Visiting Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m - 4:00 p.m.
Tel: 03-5177180
Admission: 10 NIS


Sources: Etzel Museum