image sourced from original article at A rare recording from 1991 captures Yitzhak Rabin reflecting on the early days of the Independence War, revealing deep uncertainty among Jewish military leaders about their chances of survival. 'I don't remember anyone believing we had the strength,' Rabin said during a conversation with fellow veterans.
Rabin described a pivotal meeting in which Haganah commanders were summoned by David Ben-Gurion. He recalled being stunned when Ben-Gurion warned that the Jewish community must prepare for an invasion by the armies of neighboring Arab states immediately after declaring statehood.
According to Rabin, Ben-Gurion anticipated an attack by seven armies, underscoring the immense pressure and existential fear facing the emerging state. The recording offers a rare and candid glimpse into the doubts and gravity that marked the war’s earliest moments.
