Bombing of Benot Ya'aqov Bridge
This bridge was the main target of the 'Night of the Bridges' operations in the northern part of the country, on the night of the 16th to the 17th of June 1946.
Benot Ya'aqov Bridge overlooks the Jordan River south of the Hachula Lake, connecting the Galilee with the Golan. The road leading to Quneitira and Damascus runs through it. The bridge is one of the most important passage ways in the history of Israel, and was destroyed numerous times through history. This bridge was the main target of the 'Night of the Bridges' operations in the northern part of the country, on the night of the 16th to the 17th of June 1946.
The sabotage mission of Benot Ya'aqov Bridge was assigned to a force the size of a platoon, which consisted of 36 warriors from the 3rd Battalion. The warriors belonged to Palmach units that lived on kibbutz Ayelet-Hashahar and kibbutz Hulata. The operation commander was Oded Messer, commander of 9th Company.
The bridge was regularly guarded by two Arab watchmen, and had a police station located on its eastern end. Additional British forces sat in Rosh Pinna and Har Kena'an.
The sabotage mission of Benot Ya'aqov Bridge was assigned to a force the size of a platoon, which consisted of 36 warriors from the 3rd Battalion. The warriors belonged to Palmach units that lived on kibbutz Ayelet-Hashahar and kibbutz Hulata. The operation commander was Oded Messer, commander of 9th Company.
The bridge was regularly guarded by two Arab watchmen, and had a police station located on its eastern end. Additional British forces sat in Rosh Pinna and Har Kena'an.