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Belkind, Naaman (1889-1917)
Member of the Nili Group The nephew of Bilu founder Israel Belkind
and the son of Bilu pioneer Shimshon Belkind, Naaman Belkind was born in
Eretz Yisrael. He grew up in the Bilu community of Gedera, and was later
employed in the wine cellars of Rishon LeTzion.
Along with his cousin Avshalom Feinberg and his brother Eytan, Belkind
joined the Nili espionage group, which was formed in 1915 to assist the
British against the Turkish authorities. The group encountered much opposition
to its operations, in part from the British themselves, but largely from
the members of the Yishuv, who regarded the espionage as subversive and
endangering Jewish settlements. Nili's independence from mainstream Zionist
politics also lent it a controversial nature, but the group maintained
its activities.
In September, 1917, Belkind set out for Egypt to look into the circumstances
regarding Feinberg's death earlier that year. Caught by Beduin in the
Sinai, he was handed over to the Turks and brought to Damascus. Shortly
after, the principal Nili figures were arrested and the group incapacitated.
Belkind was convicted of spying and was hanged on December 16, 1917, along
with Nili leader Yosef Lishansky. He was later re-interred in Rishon LeTzion.
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