After capturing Haifa, Ben-Gurion gave order to stop fleeing Arabs from returning
Ben-Gurion gave order to stop fleeing Arabs from returning to Haifa Contents of letter contradicts Golda Meir's testimony and adds to the lack of clarity about the leader's attitude towards the Arab population in the region. HAARETZ.COM | Di Ofer Aderet David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, gave an instruction aimed at preventing Haifa’s Arab residents who have fled the city during the 1948 War of Independence from returning to their homes as long as the fighting continued. This was revealed in a letter bearing Ben-Gurion's signature, which will go on sale next week at the Kedem auction house in Jerusalem. The letter was sent by Ben-Gurion on June 2, 1948, a month and a half after Haifa was captured and a few weeks after Israel's independence was declared. It was addressed to Abba Khoushy, the secretary-general of the Haifa Workers' Council, and later the city’s mayor.