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Jews throughout Israel showed not much sorrow for the man, whom they had disliked, but horror at the act. "The personal tragedy didn't hit us at all," said one Israel newspaperman. "We are too hardened. Life has been cheap here for years. What shocked us is the recurrence of political murder. God knows where that will lead us. If a couple of snot-noses can kill anyone they like, and get away with it, they might decide to turn on Shertok or Ben-Gurion next."
The Israel government immediately launched a manhunt for the killers. Hundreds of suspects were arrested. Ports and airfields throughout the country were closed. Crack troops entered Jerusalem, prowled the city in armored cars, guns ready. They knew little more than that the murderer was "sallow-faced and dark-haired." But they knew a lot about the Stern gang.
Formed in 1940 by one Abraham Stern as a terrorist weapon against the British, it had committed such deeds before. During the war, Stern offered to help the Axis invade the Middle East if they would recognize the Sternists as Palestine's government. In 1944 the Sternists murdered Lord Moyne, British Resident Minister in the Middle East.
Even though the vast majority of Israelis were shocked by the crime, world public opinion would link the assassination with the long record of gangsterism, terrorism and almost insanely violent propaganda which had become associated with Israel's struggle for independence, and which moderate Zionists seemed unable to stop. In other cases, propaganda had excused or glossed over the crimes of the Jewish extremists by alleging "imperialism" on the part of the British or charging worse atrocities to the Arabs. In Bernadotte's case there was no excuse to make. He was obviously a good man who sought nothing in Palestine but peace.
"Be Prepared." Folke Bernadotte, nephew of King Gustav of Sweden, was raised in a thoroughly Lutheran home. Because of his marked musical talent, he was forced to play the organ during the family's daily religious services. He disliked this as much as his enforced attendance at his mother's sewing circle.
He served as an officer in the King's Own Mounted Regiment (which has not had to fight a battle in 134 years). In 1928 he married Estelle Romaine Manville (of Johns-Manville). He was 33, she 24. They moved into Dragongarden, a villa in Stockholm's diplomatic quarter, surrounded by old oaks, vast lawns, and a canal where all the Bernadottes went skating. Together with his two sons, Folke and Bertil (two others died), the Count grew into an enthusiastic Boy Scout, was frequently seen in Scout garb at international Scout encampments.
He became adjutant to the Swedish Crown Prince, Swedish commissioner to the New York World's Fair, chairman of countless societies including the Y.M.C.A., the Swedish Association to Promote Swimming, the International Red Cross. In the last months of World War II he shuttled back & forth between Sweden and Germany; he arranged for the exchange of war prisoners, started negotiations with Heinrich Himmler for Germany's surrender. He remained true to the Scout motto: Alltid Redo (Be Prepared). When the U.N. appointed him its mediator in Palestine, he was not only ready, but eager.