2025-06-30 21:15 <br/> Tags: #Intel #operation #Yishuv #Event #WorldJewry # Operation Balak - Operation Balak was a covert arms smuggling operation carried out by the [[Haganah]] in 1948. - The operation was meant to circumvent weapons embargoes placed on both the Jews and Arabs. - The operation was approved by [[David Ben-Gurion]]. - The three month operation coincided with the declaration of the state of Israel and the ensuing [[1948 Arab Israeli War]]. - Shipments of weapons were brought to Israel from Czechoslovakia by sea and by air. - [[Haganah]] operatives in Europe cautiously recruited a non Jew WWII Royal Air Force pilot named Gordon Levett. - Levett began flying planes full of weapons from Czechoslovakia to Israel in the spring of 1948. - Rifles, pistols, machine guns, aircraft, ammunition, etc., were delivered in huge quantities during the operation. - Czechoslovakia was under Soviet control at the time and the shipments were approved by Stalin who initially supported the Zionists. #RedPill *The name for the operation, "Balak," refers to the king of Moab described in the Book of Numbers. Balak intended to curse and destroy the Israelites when he is given a prophetic word that those who curse Israel will be cursed. The Jews reference Balak in terms of God destroying their enemies and presenting them the Holy Land. Thousands of years later the Jews of modern Israel often name their intel/military units and operations after their ancient enemies and their destruction or promised destruction.* <br/> *A Douglas C-54 Skymaster, one of the types of aircraft used to smuggle armaments to Israel* ![[image-35.png|459x359]] #### References - “Operation Balak,” _Wikipedia_, last modified **19 November 2024**, 14:40 UTC, accessed **June 30 2025**, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Balak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Balak). - Omer Sayadi, “Operation Balak: The IDF’s Star of David on Nazi Rifles,” _Small Arms Review_, March 29, 2024, [https://smallarmsreview.com/operation-balak-the-idfs-star-of-david-on-nazi-rifles/](https://smallarmsreview.com/operation-balak-the-idfs-star-of-david-on-nazi-rifles/). - “Arms shipments from Czechoslovakia to Israel,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_shipments_from_Czechoslovakia_to_Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_shipments_from_Czechoslovakia_to_Israel).