Shir ha-Palmakh

The Zionist song 'Shir ha-Palmakh' (Song of the Palmakh) was written by Zerubavel and set to a defiant march melody by Dovid Zahavi.  The Palmakh (an acronym for the Hebrew words 'Plugot makhatz') was the elite strike force of the Hagana, the main defence organisation of the Jewish community in Palestine under the British mandate.  The lyrics affirm that the fighters of the Palmakh stand armed and ready to defend the homeland.