Jewish terrorists plotted in 1946 to assassinate members of Clement Attlee's postwar Labour government, including Ernest Bevin, the foreign secretary, and an opponent of the creation of a Jewish state who had recommended that Jewish refugees in Europe be prevented from immigrating to Palestine- part of efforts aimed at establishing the state of Israel, newly declassified intelligence files revealed.

According to the documents, UK's MI5 uncovered attempts by leader of the extremist Irgun militant group, Menachem Begin- the future prime minister of Israel, to fool it by having cosmetic surgery to disguise his identity.

Also included in the documents was a telegram from Palestine dated February 12 1946 warning that a reliable source said that Irgun, led by Begin, who was supported by the Soviet Union, sent a group of terrorists to Britain "to assassinate members of His Majesty's Government, especially Mr. Bevin".

Five terrorist cells were sent to Britain to carry out bombings and assassinations that would “beat the dog in his own kennel,” as described in an article posted on Times Online.

A memo from the Officer Administering the Government of Palestine to the Secretary of State for the Colonies warned that "the Stern Group have decided to assassinate both the High Commissioner and the General Officer Commanding. In addition, a number of CID officers are to be assassinated as well as police officers and any high government officials who are thought to be anti-semitic," according to UK's The Guardian.

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