HaKatan, two possibleexplanations were given by a NYTimes book reviewer edited, we don’t allow links
1. Ben-Gurion was cynically writing off half of Europe’s Jews
2. He was explaining that without a Jewish state they would be doomed anyway.
This could also apply to Gruenbaum’s statement. Weizman’s obviously means that the old ones had no hope and the Zionists had to save whom it was possible to save. In any case, you do not mention the transfer plan whose goal was to bring over all of Germany’s Jews nor do you mention Ben-Gurion’s insistence that all Jews would have th right to make aliya despite the desperate economic condition of the new state. Nor do you mention the fact that the albeit controversial Rudolf Yisrael Kastner saved the Satmar Rebbe and other religious leaders.
Nor do you mention the Zionists of other political stripes, such as Jabotinsky, who warned the Jews of Europe of what was being planned to no avail.
So far as the “declaration of war” is concerned, this refers to the boycott of German goods instituted by various Jewish organizations. This was at a time when a united boycott could have brought down the Nazi government and prevented even the early discriminatory laws. After the Nazis felt strong enough there entire goal was to wipe out the Jewish people c”v. Even towards the end of the war they diverted railroads desperately needed to bring supplies to the front to bringing Jews to concentration camps.
In nay case, we are arguing about people who have long gone on to their final judgements. The State of Israel is a fact. Make aliya, become a citizen and at least vote for change.