STERN GANG AGAIN REARS TERRORIST HEAD IN ISRAEL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23116, 1 December 1949, Page 4

STERN GANG AGAIN REARS TERRORIST HEAD IN ISRAEL

(By Arye Wallenstein, a Reuter Correspondent) TEL AVIV. The nucleus of a fantastic underground, movement, on similar lines to anti-British terrorist groups during the British Mandate over Palestine, is beginning to take shape in Israel under the leadership of a 37-year-old intellectual and one time second-in-command of the notorious Stern Gang, Dr. Israel Scheib.

While both terrorist organisations, the Irszun Zvai Leumi and the Stern Gang, ceased to exist during the Jewish-Arab war and both turned into legal political parties with representatives in the Israel Knesseth (Parliament), some elements of the former underground still hope to revive what thev regard as the “good old days” of bloodshed and terror. At a public meeting held in Tel Aviv recently. Dr. Scheib told hundreds of former Irgunists and Stcrnists: "Disbanding of the underground was a mistake. The freedom and independence you hoped to obtain with the creation of the State are an illusion. “Israel sold out to America and British agents are active in Hakirya (Government site") and in Rehovolh (President’s residence) ” The large open-air cinema hall was half eirmtv when Dr. Scheib denounced Ben-Gurion's moderate government as well as his former comrades-in-arms who have now given up underground wavs and methods, but some of the hundreds who were present cheered their former leader when he said: ■‘Brnndottc was killed: but his plans survive.” As for Dr. Scheib. there was a tirhe when the political section of the Palestine Security Police would have given a great deal to lav hands on him. At that time, with the help of a beard and forged identity papers, lie succeeded in eluding successive screening and searches, after his’ escape from the guards who were taking him to receive orthopoedic treatment while under arrest. Dr. Scheib’s life story is not without its high spots of adventure. A graduate of the provincial University of Wilno in Poland, where lie wrote a thesis in philosophy, the young Israel Scheib ioined the Jewish right-wing Revisionist Party 1 and became known for his extremist views. When the founder of the Stern group. Yair Stern, organised secret cells of his movement in Poland just before the outbreak of the Second World War, the voting lecturer in the Jewish seminary became one of his greatest admirers. His adventures really began after the collapse of Poland. Life under Soviet ru'e. deportations and escape from Siberia through tile Far East led him finallv to Palestine in 1940. In Tel Aviv, he became a high school teacher—-and one of the too leaders of the small terrorist gang of his friend Stern. It was five years inter that British plain clothed police fetched him from the ‘ Ben Yehouda” High School where lie was teaching Hebrew literature. Forewarned, he jumped through a second II. tor window to escape arrest, but he broke his spinal column and was taken to a Government hospital under henvv guard. A group of young, armed Stcrnists rescued their leader in 1947 while he was being taken for his usual treatment to the house of a Jewish orthopoedic surgeon in Jerusalem. Since that time he has been the uncontested “brains" of the Stern group.

It was Dr Scheib who edited the wittv underground newspaper “Mass" (Action) and the inciting leaflets. It was Dr. Scheib who had 1o approve anv ooliev statement made by the leader Nathan Friedman Yelin. now a member of the Israeli Parliament. Immediately after the creation of the State of Israel. Dr Scheib and Friedman Yelin emerged from the underground Together, they tried to enter the open political arena and prepare for the general election. Dr Seheib’s next adventure was a repetition of history—avoiding police arrest This time, however, it was (he Israel police who were looking for him. in September 1943 following the assassination rtf Ih° United Nations Mediator.’ Count Folke Bernadotte. in Jo’-usnicm Dr Scheib was the only ton lender nt' the Stern Gang’who escaped arrest. He “disappeared into the underground" again, whcc he s<avcd during the months of his friends’ detention and trials. When Friedman Yelin and lus friends were released under general amnesty m-anTd a* the beginning of this year. D'\ Schoib's name figured on the “Figbtors'* fStcrrdstl electoral list, but nob, Friedman Yelin from among the fighters obtained a seat in Parliament and soon a serious sn’’t niiste-1 Dr. Scheib and a number of his followers from life small legalised party. Todav. Dr. Sche : b is again annea-m" in the political life or Israel. This time, h* is openlv calling for a new underground movement. to work against his countrymen and their Government. ft is generally agreed here that he has small prospect of success.