During the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine, Ben-Gurion instigated a policy of restraint ("Havlagah") in which the Haganah and other Jewish groups did not retaliate for Arab attacks against Jewish civilians, concentrating only on self-defense.
Selama pemberontakan Arab di Palestina 1936-1939, Ben-Gurion menghasut kebijakan pengekangan ("Havlagah") dimana Haganah dan kelompok-kelompok Yahudi lainnya tidak membalas serangan Arab terhadap warga sipil Yahudi, berkonsentrasi hanya pada pertahanan diri.