ALTERMAN, NATAN

Alterman, Natan: translation

(1910-70)

One of Israel's first and most prominentHebrewpoets. Born in Warsaw, Poland, he arrived inPalestinein 1925 and published his first poem in 1931. His satirical political verse, which gave voice to theZionistcommunity's struggle against the policies of theBritish mandatoryauthority in the 1940s, earned him the nickname "the poet of the Yishuv." Much of his popular work was reflected in his weekly newspaper column inHa'aretz, which he began writing in 1934, and inDavarfrom 1943. During World War II, much of Alterman's poetry dealt with Jewish symbols and themes, and his works were imbued with the horrors of theHolocaust. With the end of the war, his works linked the Holocaust to illegal Jewish immigration to Palestine (Aliya Bet) and Israel'sWar of Independence. In his later years, Alterman used his poetry to voice strong support for permanent retention ofArabterritory won by Israel in theSix-Day Warand the concept of aGreater Israel. Alterman died inTel Aviv.