I hold the flag in my hand. I don’t fold it up. With the flag flutter-ing above our heads I march off toward Ben Yahuda Street. Since the street we are walking along is narrow and the only way into town, a large number of youths collect around us. Without planning any-thing, we have suddenly become a demonstration.
One of the leaders of the Zionist Youth pushes his way through to me and demands that I should fold up the flag. I ignore him. The feel-ing that I am leading a demonstration almost drives me out of my mind.
He has no choice but to walk alongside me.
* * *
"Free Im-mig-rat-ion!" I yell. "Free Im-mig-rat-ion!"
"Free Im-mig-rat-ion!" repeats the crowd.
"Set-tle-ment!" "Def-ense!" someone calls.
"Free-dom o-or death!" roars the crowd behind me.
Word quickly spreads through the little town that a demonstra-tion is under way. On both sides of Allenby Street people are watch-ing and trying to work out whether it is a Haganah or an Irgun march. Joske, my comrade from the Irgun group, is standing at the side of the street and looking on disdainfully. Suddenly he recognizes me and waves. I ignore him. He struggles through the crowd to me and shouts in my ear "Are you crazy? The Irgun has forbidden any kind of participation!"
I don’t care at all. I am drunk with joy. "Go to hell!" I shout back. He stares at me, appalled. The very idea that one could disobey an order of the Irgun has never occurred to him. He disappears.
The leaders of the Zionist Youth, who are marching behind me and who don’t like the look of this "breach of national discipline," are holding council. "What can we do?" I can hear behind me. "He is crazy. He won’t put down the flag!"
A group leader tries to persuade me to stop the madness. There is a rumor that British policemen are waiting by the railway tracks ready to shoot if we approach the District Commissioner’s office. I would be responsible for any blood shed. I hesitate, then give in. We will finish the demonstration at the main synagogue.
The youth leaders and I climb the steps. Someone gives me a shoulder up onto the railings. Around me the area falls silent. Hundreds of pairs of eyes are staring at me and trying to guess