David Ben-Gurion 1937 Letter Controversy

David Ben-Gurion 1937 Letter Controversy

On October 5, 1937, David Ben-Gurion, then head of the Jewish Agency Executive, wrote a letter to his son Amos during the period following the British Peel Commission proposal to partition Mandatory Palestine. In the letter, Ben-Gurion discussed the political implications of territorial partition and the potential future expansion of a Jewish state.

A translated sentence from the letter has been widely cited as stating, “We must expel Arabs and take their places.” However, historians have debated the accuracy and context of this translation. The original Hebrew manuscript contains crossed-out lines and wording that differs from later English renderings. Some scholars argue that the sentence referred to strategic considerations in the context of partition and land acquisition rather than an immediate policy directive.

The letter has been referenced in academic works and political debates concerning early Zionist policy toward the Arab population of Mandatory Palestine. Disputes remain regarding translation, interpretation, and intent. The document is preserved in archival collections and continues to be examined in historical scholarship.