Daniel, Clifton. "IRGUN BLASTS WALL :Jews and Arabs Flee Prison as Terrorists Battle British ASSAULT AT HANGING SITE Five Jews Killed in Attack on Troops Near By -- Six Bombs Hurled at Army Camp Bombing Frees 251 in Palestine; 15 Killed in Irgun Attack on Jail . " New York Times (1857-Current File) [New York, N.Y.] 5 May 1947,1-2. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2004). ProQuest. University of Pennsylvania Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 9 Apr. 2008

Clifton Daniels article, "Irgun Blasts Wall: Jews and Arabs flee Prison as Terrorists Battle British", describes in details the planning and events that unfolded in the acre prison break. The prison break, completed by the Irgun, was one of the greatest attacks against the British in the 1940’s. Daniels describes the massive gunfights that erupted in the prison break along with several exploding grenades. An unbelievable fight against the British, the Irgun pulled off an extensive operation and did so leaving very few casualties. Both sides suffered very few casualties, though the British suffered immense public relations problems and several deaths from the attack. This attack was not typical of the Irgun and seems to be their greatest "accomplishment" aside from the King David bombing. The british responded with full force raiding several places accused of housing weapons and rounded up more prisoners found guilty of possesion.

The movie dramatizes this scene in several ways by misrepresenting the true event. Exodus does not show the immense gunfire that erupted on both sides, but rather shows the heroism and seemingly superior Irgun fighting off the British. Additionally, the movie shows haganah involvement as Ari helps to complete the prison break. However, in reality the prison break had no Haganah involvement and was not condoned by the Jewish Agency. Also, the movie avoids any reference to Jewish casualties, but the Irgun suffered several deaths and injuries. The movies misrepresentation of some basic facts places extreme bias on the situation. Trying to evoke characteristics of heroism, the director avoids some of the simple facts. An unbelievable prison break, the Irgun initiated a daring plan to try and combat several British executions of Irgun members.

Daniel, Clifton. "CYPRUS JEWS CLING TO PALESTINE HOPE :British Rush Camp Expansion, Act to Ease Life for Those Still Eying Promised Land. " New York Times (1857-Current file) [New York, N.Y.] 20 Aug. 1946, 1-2. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2004). ProQuest. University of Pennsylvania library. 9 Apr. 2008

In his article, Clifton Daniel describes the conditions of the temporary refugee camps for holocaust survivors. While there is a lack of water, appropriate food, and other resources, the Jewish people still hold hope they can soon immigrate to Palestine. After World War II, Jews who didn’t go back to Europe or couldn’t immigrate elsewhere were frequently sent to refugee camps under British control in Cyprus. Under the quota system only 1500 Jews were able to enter Palestine each month and the article describes the process as long and grueling because many of the refugees could not leave Cyprus for six months. Under terrible conditions, some of the Jewish people took leadership roles to create new communities and become somewhat autonomous. Additionally, Daniel goes on to describe violence in Palestine as the Irgun, a militant Jewish organization, bombed a railway in response to the ordered death of eighteen Jews by the British.

Daniel’s approach to describing the conditions in the refugee camps seems to perfectly emulate those in the movie. In fact, some of the British soldiers in the movie mention that they do not enter the camps and allow the Jewish people to keep to their own. They feel that the Jewish Refugees are not only able to handle the situation, but prefer to live without any outside interference. The extreme difficulties in the camp along with a strong desire to enter Palestine and start a new country seems to be evident in both the article and movie. The struggle between British laws and Jewish ambitions is demonstrated throughout the historical analysis of the article and visual effects presented by Exodus. In the movie, Ari continuously struggles to side-step British laws and bring Jewish refugees illegally into Palestine. The overwhelming similarities give credibility to the movie as providing a realistic story.

Clarke, Thurston. By Blood and Fire. New York: Putnam, 1981. 59-137.

In his book "By Blood and Fire", Clarke reviews, in incredible detail, the plans for bombing the King David Hotel. Some believe that this single act, which took place on July 22nd, 1946, was the main spark in forcing the British out of Palestine. The book not only describes the plans of destruction, but also discusses the people involved and the reasons behind their actions. Amnon, one of the Irgun members, says he came to Palestine “to build a Jewish state not by farming, but by fighting.” (Page 31) The Irgun set out to successfully establish the State of Israel through a successful military campaign which would push the British and Arabs out of “their land.” In bombing the King David, the Irgun set out “to write history” (p. 39) as no other partisan band had even blown up something of that magnitude. Clarke’s book effectively describes the methods and purpose of blowing up the King David Hotel (British central command).

The movie takes a different approach from "By Blood and Fire" in that it idealizes the Haganah and usually criticizes the Irgun. The Haganah, which was basically political and not militant, is seen in the movie as truly building the state and helping its residents to succeed. Aside from building a country through immigration, the Haganah builds schools and even helps to run hospitals. Interestingly though, in Exodus the Haganah and Irgun team up to break dozens of prisoners out of a British jail. The remaining parts of the movie establish the Irgun as a ruthless militant organization and does not approve of the King David Bombing. The Haganah believes that acts like the King David bombing actually deterred the British from helping the Haganah to bring in more Jewish immigrants. Though the movie represents the struggle against the British, it seems Otto Preminger decided to show the Haganah’s social progress as the main force which built the State of Israel.