Shamir Admits Execution During Jewish Underground

JERUSALEM — Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir acknowledged ordering the execution of a rogue member of his pre-state underground and said it was the hardest decision he ever made, according to his autobiography.

Shamir’s recollection of his years in the Jewish underground is part of his recently completed autobiography, excerpts of which were published Friday in the daily Yediot Ahronot. The book has not been published.

The account is the first time Shamir has acknowledged his role in the killing or even discussed his role in the pre-state underground, although he never denied others’ reports.

Shamir said underground fighter Eliyahu Giladi began behaving like a lunatic, fighting with fellow members and calling for the killing of innocent Jewish civilians and members of the Zionist leadership.

“The man simply lost his mind,” Shamir wrote. “I knew I had to make a fateful decision, and I never avoided it.”

He does not write how Giladi was executed, but some historians say Shamir did it personally after a quick trial on the sand dunes south of Tel Aviv.

The execution so traumatized Shamir that he named his daughter Gilad after Giladi.