Haganah

The Haganah (Hebrew: הגנה, lit. "The Defense") was the underground paramilitary organization in the Yishuv (the Jewish community in Mandatory Palestine) from 1920 to 1948. It was the precursor to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The Haganah was founded to protect Jewish settlements and citizens from attacks by Arabs and to oppose British policies that were seen as restrictive or hostile to Jewish interests. The organization played a significant role in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, during which it became the core of the newly formed IDF. The Haganah's activities included self-defense, immigration (particularly illegal immigration during the British Mandate), and the establishment of a Jewish state. It was also involved in the Nakba (Arabic: النكبة, lit. "catastrophe"), the term used to describe the displacement of Palestinian Arabs during the 1948 war. The Haganah's legacy is a subject of debate, with some viewing it as a necessary defense force for the Jewish community and others criticizing its role in the displacement of Palestinians.