The defense of Gush-Ezion
Gush-Ezion is situated in the Hebron Mountains, 24 kilometers from Jerusalem and 18 kilometers from Hebron, and includes the 4 settlements of Kfar Ezion, Mesu'ot Yitzhak, En Zurim and Revadim. The resolution of 29.11.47 left the settlements outside the borders of the Jewish state, and at the beginning of the War of Independence 380 'Notrim' and settlers accompanied provision convoys on their way to Gush Ezion, incase of a possible siege. On the 25.12.47, they were joined by Palmach reserve units, the 'Notrim' mobile guard and the Jerusalem 'Chish' squad Commander training course.
On the 11.12.47, ten men were killed during an attack against a convoy on its way to Kfar Ezion. As a result, overland contact was almost cut off, the children were sent to Jerusalem and an emergency rule was determined.
On the 12.1.48, Uzi Narkis replaced the Gush Ezion Commander, Danny Mass, and Palmach H.Q. became in charge of the Gush. The new Commander captured 'The Russian Convent' and preferred fortification work rather than busy work in order to promote possible attacks.
On the 14.1.48, Gush Ezion was attacked by 1000 Arabs under the command of Abed Kader El Husaini. Palmach platoon Commander, Aryeh Teper initiated an attack against the Arab forces while they were resting before the attack, thus surprising them and driving them away.
The morale of the men was boosted by the failure of the biggest Arab attack yet, but the Commanders who feared other attacks were yet to come, requested reinforcements and further provisions, and 'Haganah' command responded by sending further reinforcement that arrived during the night. On the 15.1.48, The 'Lamed-Hey' Company which included Palmach and Jerusalem Chish members and was led by the 6th battalion assistant battalion Commander, Danny Mass, was on its way. The Company encountered some Arab forces 5 kilometers from Gush Ezion, near Jaba, and 35 members were killed during the fighting.
On the 21.2.48, a provision convoy together with a reinforcement of 50 men arrived in Revadim.
On the 25.3, Moshe- 'Mosh' Zilbershmidt replaced Uzi Narkis as Gush Ezion Commander.
Haganah command sent a large and strong provision convoy to supply the cut off Gush with reinforcement of men and weapons. The convoy arrived at Gush Ezion on the 27.3.48, and meanwhile the Arabs from the near by villages set up blockades by the King Solomon Pools. The convoy was stopped on its way back by a road block near the village of Nabi Samuel, during which 14 men were killed and 40 others were wounded. Gush- Ezion was completely cut off, and could only be contacted by light aircrafts landing in a temporary improvised airfield. Gush- Ezion domination over the road leading from Jerusalem to Hebron enabled attacks against the Jordan legion and the obstruction of transport. Towards the end of the British mandate, Abdala, king of Jordan, ordered to occupy Gush- Ezion, and the Gush was attacked on the 4.5.48, and occupied by 14.5.48. 155 men died during the last two days of the sighting. The overall number of fatalities during the entire Gush- Ezion fighting amounted to 238 and 165 were wounded. 320 men were captured by the Jordan legion.
Palmach members who died during the fighting: Aloni Israel; Angel Haim, Bugoslawsky Benjamin; Bitensky Yehuda; Ben-Yamin Oded; Ben-Me'er
Ben –Zion; Ben-Atar Ya'acov; Baruch Yosef; Gaon Eitan; Goland Sabo; Ginzburg Yitzhak; Halevi Yitzhak; Hershkewitz Eliyahu; Zvuloni Yitzhak; ט"ש David, Cohen Alexander; Cohen Ya'acov; Kelev Yechiel; Caspi Ya'acov; Levin Yona; Lustig Alexander; MIzrachi Eliyahu, Michaeli Amnon; Mass Danny, Panueli Shaul; Perlstyne Moshe; Persitz Benjamin; Patt Baruch, Tzabari David; Tzwebner David Cotick Ya'acov; Kopler Yosef; Kushnir Tuvya; Rych Daniel; Shmueli Ya'acov.
On the 12.1.48, Uzi Narkis replaced the Gush Ezion Commander, Danny Mass, and Palmach H.Q. became in charge of the Gush. The new Commander captured 'The Russian Convent' and preferred fortification work rather than busy work in order to promote possible attacks.
On the 14.1.48, Gush Ezion was attacked by 1000 Arabs under the command of Abed Kader El Husaini. Palmach platoon Commander, Aryeh Teper initiated an attack against the Arab forces while they were resting before the attack, thus surprising them and driving them away.
The morale of the men was boosted by the failure of the biggest Arab attack yet, but the Commanders who feared other attacks were yet to come, requested reinforcements and further provisions, and 'Haganah' command responded by sending further reinforcement that arrived during the night. On the 15.1.48, The 'Lamed-Hey' Company which included Palmach and Jerusalem Chish members and was led by the 6th battalion assistant battalion Commander, Danny Mass, was on its way. The Company encountered some Arab forces 5 kilometers from Gush Ezion, near Jaba, and 35 members were killed during the fighting.
On the 21.2.48, a provision convoy together with a reinforcement of 50 men arrived in Revadim.
On the 25.3, Moshe- 'Mosh' Zilbershmidt replaced Uzi Narkis as Gush Ezion Commander.
Haganah command sent a large and strong provision convoy to supply the cut off Gush with reinforcement of men and weapons. The convoy arrived at Gush Ezion on the 27.3.48, and meanwhile the Arabs from the near by villages set up blockades by the King Solomon Pools. The convoy was stopped on its way back by a road block near the village of Nabi Samuel, during which 14 men were killed and 40 others were wounded. Gush- Ezion was completely cut off, and could only be contacted by light aircrafts landing in a temporary improvised airfield. Gush- Ezion domination over the road leading from Jerusalem to Hebron enabled attacks against the Jordan legion and the obstruction of transport. Towards the end of the British mandate, Abdala, king of Jordan, ordered to occupy Gush- Ezion, and the Gush was attacked on the 4.5.48, and occupied by 14.5.48. 155 men died during the last two days of the sighting. The overall number of fatalities during the entire Gush- Ezion fighting amounted to 238 and 165 were wounded. 320 men were captured by the Jordan legion.
Palmach members who died during the fighting: Aloni Israel; Angel Haim, Bugoslawsky Benjamin; Bitensky Yehuda; Ben-Yamin Oded; Ben-Me'er
Ben –Zion; Ben-Atar Ya'acov; Baruch Yosef; Gaon Eitan; Goland Sabo; Ginzburg Yitzhak; Halevi Yitzhak; Hershkewitz Eliyahu; Zvuloni Yitzhak; ט"ש David, Cohen Alexander; Cohen Ya'acov; Kelev Yechiel; Caspi Ya'acov; Levin Yona; Lustig Alexander; MIzrachi Eliyahu, Michaeli Amnon; Mass Danny, Panueli Shaul; Perlstyne Moshe; Persitz Benjamin; Patt Baruch, Tzabari David; Tzwebner David Cotick Ya'acov; Kopler Yosef; Kushnir Tuvya; Rych Daniel; Shmueli Ya'acov.