16 Facts About Avshalom Haviv

Avshalom Haviv was a member of the Irgun underground organization in Mandatory Palestine, and one of the Olei Hagardom executed by the British authorities during the Jewish insurgency in Palestine.

Avshalom Haviv's hanging, along with that of two other Irgun members, triggered the Irgun's retaliatory hangings of two British sergeants.

Avshalom Haviv was born on June 18,1926, in Haifa.

Avshalom Haviv's father, Eliezer Haviv, was a well-known leather merchant.

On finishing high school, Avshalom Haviv joined the Palmach, the elite fighting force of the Haganah as a condition for being allowed to study at university, as the Jewish Agency obliged all Jewish high school graduates to spend a year either working on a kibbutz or serving in the Palmach.

In many operations, Avshalom Haviv took on the job of machine gunner, mainly participating in attacks on the British police's Criminal Investigation Department in Jerusalem and on the government income tax offices, as well as in mining operations in the Jerusalem-Bethlehem area against British security traffic.

On January 19,1946, Avshalom Haviv participated in a joint Irgun-Lehi attack on the Central Prison in Jerusalem's Russian Compound in a failed attempt to free Jewish underground prisoners, in which one of the raiders and a British soldier and policeman were killed.

The attack took place on Shabbat, and Avshalom Haviv, who was traditionally religious, left the synagogue during prayer.

Avshalom Haviv provided covering fire with a Bren gun for an Irgun sapper team which tossed explosive charges into the Goldschmidt House, leveling the building.

Avshalom Haviv was the leader of a blocking squad that laid mines to delay British pursuers, allowing the getaway trucks carrying escaped prisoners and retreating raiders to escape.

Avshalom Haviv asked to read a declaration in response to the judge's question, but was told by the President of the Court that he was there to answer questions, not to recite declarations.

Avshalom Haviv informed the condemned that they were sentenced to "hanging until their spirit departs".

Avshalom Haviv's mother exercised self-control when the verdict was declared and remained silent throughout.

Avshalom Haviv spent fifteen minutes encouraging them, although the Rabbi ended up being heartened by the prisoners.

Meir followed and like Avshalom Haviv, sang until his last moments.

Meir Nakar, Yaakov Weiss and Avshalom Haviv were the last to ascend the British gallows.