____________________________________________ 4 IICC Perspectives which contributed to the creation of social and intelligence connections, and fundraisers were held for the welfare of the soldiers. This cooperation, volunteering for the British Army, and the Yishuv's participation in combat and intelligence, which Prof. Yoav Gelber calls the "Partnership of equals," led to evolving Jewish expertise not only in combat but also in an organized administrative, military framework and in the professionalization of intelligence and the basis for a modern intelligence community that operated both vis-à-vis the Arab population in Palestine and abroad. Although the Jews who were posted in intelligence units occupied junior positions, they were nevertheless exposed to the professional methods of an organized army in gathering, compartmentalizing, and extracting intelligence for the needs of their skippers. During these years, the regular intelligence network expanded in both Syria and Lebanon, which in July 1941 were occupied by Britain, from the French Vichy regime. Anton Sa'ada's "National Bloc" was closely monitored in Syria and Lebanon. The Bloc's ideas later fed nationalist leaders such as Michel Aflak, one of the founders of the Ba'ath party. The Agency also maintained constant ties with Emir Abdullah in Transjordan. In Egypt, the agency kept contact with Palestinian exiles, and with the establishment of the British-backed Arab League based in Cairo, Egypt became an important pan-Arab gathering arena. During the war, international political activity intensified with a growing understanding of the need for international public opinion, especially among the world Jewry, on the issue of restrictions on immigration. In 1943, the Jewish Agency opened its office in Washington, D.C., headed by Nahum Goldman. Most of the activity of the Political Department began to move from London to the United States. The Post-war Years With the surrender of Germany in May 1945, and the revealing of the extent and horrors of the Holocaust in Europe, the Zionist leadership hoped that the British government would change its policy towards immigration of displaced Holocaust survivors to Palestine. The Political Department continued to work to gain legitimacy for the idea of a national home among Arab elements in neighboring countries, especially Emir Abdullah of Trams-Jordan and the Maronite leadership in Lebanon, as well as in Western capitals. Between 1947 and 1948, the structure of the Political Department was already established as a body with clear responsibilities and relegation. The head of the Department Moshe Sharett, reported directly to Ben-Gurion. Under him, the acting director, Golda Meyerson, oversaw the functions of the attorney general, political adviser, spokesperson, and administrative secretary, as well as professional divisions of security and the Arab wing, headed by Eliyahu Sasson.
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