Tel Yona

Hidden beneath the modern facade of Tel Aviv’s Hilton Hotel and Independence Park lies a forgotten tale. A tale of Tel Yona. Tel Yona was more than just a military base. It was a silent witness to pivotal moments in Zionist and Israeli history. In the early 20th century, the area served as a Muslim cemetery for Jaffa residents during a cholera outbreak. Later, during World War II, the British transformed this somber ground into a resort for RAF pilots. They were drawn to the same allure that attracts visitors to Tel Aviv today: beaches, cafes, and a vibrant cultural scene. Tel Yona’s story took a dramatic turn in late 1947. After the British withdrawal, the Haganah swiftly occupied the abandoned base, renaming it in honor of fallen commander Yona Rasin. Here, on the kurkar ridge overlooking what is now Hilton Beach, the Haganah trained. This very spot bore witness to two significant events. In 1933, Haim Arlosoroff was assassinated on the beach below after a stroll with his wife. Fifteen years later, the Altalena, a ship carrying weapons for the Irgun, ran aground off the coast. It was from Tel Yona that IDF cannons fired upon the vessel. The tragic irony is not lost to history; two key events in the left-right struggle of the Jewish community played out in the shadow of Tel Yona. Beyond these dramatic events, Tel Yona served as a training ground for new Haganah recruits and housed the IDF’s early medical corps and physical training facilities. Eventually, a dispute between the government and Tel Aviv municipality led to the camp’s demolition. In its place arose Independence Park and the Hilton Hotel, burying Tel Yona’s story beneath layers of concrete and modernity. But the echoes of history still resonate here, a reminder of the past that shaped the present.