Group moves to prevent auction of Zionist hero's binoculars

The World Betar Movement is trying to prevent a Jerusalem auction house from selling a pair of binoculars once owned by Zionist activist and war hero Joseph Trumpeldor.

Founded in 1923 by Zeev Jabotinsky, the Betar Movement was originally a Zionist youth movement. Trumpeldor, who was killed in 1920 while defending the northern Israeli community of Tel Hai, was the group's chief role model.

The group's decision followed a July 22 report in Israel Hayom, saying the Jerusalem of Gold Auction Center was planning to auction the item for a starting price of $25,000.

Attorney Neriyah Meir, who heads the movement, contacted the Prime Minister's Office in an attempt to stop the auction.

"This is a piece of national history that belongs in a museum. It cannot be locked away in some tycoon's vault," he said.

Engineer Zeev Gerlitz is also trying to prevent the binoculars from going on the auction block.

In a letter titled "Stop the auction of Trumpeldor's binoculars" sent to President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev, Gerlitz urged them to prevent a situation by which the item falls into a private collector's hands.

"Indeed, one of the best places for Trumpeldor's binoculars would be the Tel Hai Museum, and we would love nothing more than to see it end up there. The Betar Movement is welcome to participate in that effort," a statement by the auction house said.

"All the historical items available for auction through us are the legal, private property of their owners. Buyers include museums, public institutions, libraries and prominent collectors, who all lend great importance to the mission of preserving historical Zionist artifacts. They are not motivated by greed," the statement said.

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