The Occupation of Sheikh Jarach
Because of Sheikh Jarach's strategic vantage point, Arab gangs based there dominated and attacked the convoys on the roads leading to 'Hadassa' hospital, the university in Har-Hazofim, and the road to Ramallah and Atarot. The Arab quarter was occupied by the Palmch 5th battalion, who were forced to retreat due to heavy British fire. The Arab inhabitants, however, never returned to the quarter, the attacks against Jewish quarters ceased and the road leading north was reopened.
The northern Arab quarter of Shikh Jarach was founded in the beginning of the 19th century when the family of Nashashibi, build their homes around the existing residence of haj Rashid-A-Nashashibi.
During the War of Independence, the village was used by Arab gang as a base for attacks on northern Jewish quarters, and the traffic leading to Har-Hazofim. On the 13.4.48, 78 people were killed during an attack against a convoy on its way to 'Hadassa' hospital.
The quarter that was considered a key position in the domination of the southern part of the city was to be occupied after the occupation of Nabi Samuel and Shoafat during the second phase of the 'Yevusi operation.
On the night of the 25.4.48, the quarter was attacked by 2 5th battalion companies, under the command of Menachem Rusk:
- The Company under the command of Zivi Zafriri assignment was to occupy the Nashashibi residence located in the northern part of the quarter, and to demolish the houses in the upper quarter. The Company's route: Sneler camp, Sanhedria quarter, Pagi quarter, outflanking the police academy and approaching the Arab quarter from the north.
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- The Company under the command of Aharon Shemi (Jimi) assignment was to occupy and demolish the houses in the lower quarter. Their route: Shneler camp, The Bukharian quarter, The Zoo, Shmuel Hanavi Street, 'Hapoel' stadium and approaching the Arab quarter from the south-west.
- Six men were wounded while entering the Nashashibi residence. The force managed to occupy the first floor, while 5 Arabs prevented them courageously from reaching the upper flights; meanwhile, the southern force overcame all resistance and methodically demolished houses one after another.
- Straight after the occupation, the British demanded the immediate withdrawal from the quarter, promising that no harm will come to the retreating forces. In spite of their promise, the British opened heavy fire on the retreating Company led by Jimi, injuring 25 men of whom 4 were severely wounded. The British also attacked the northern force, fortified in the Nashashibi residence, killing one man and injuring 7 others.
- At 10:00 AM, the British presented the force with an ultimatum saying they must withdraw from quarter by 18:00 PM, or else they will be forced to use armored tanks. The British explained the importance of controlling the route, and promised not hand the quarter over to Arabs once they evacuated the city and to acCompany the convoys on their way to Har-Hazofim.
- The British granted the Palmach demands to evacuate the Arabs from the upper flights, entered the building, disarmed the Arabs (handing their weapons over to the Palmach!), and left the quarter taking them along with them. The Company continued to demolish the buildings, and at 18:00 PM, the British open fire on the Nashashibi residence and after 20 minutes of heavy fire, the Palmach force requested to negotiate a cease-fire. Brigade commander, Yitzhak Rabin arrived to the quarter in a British tank and arranged the negotiations with the occupiers of the Nashashib residence. The 3 squads were ordered to retreat, and managed to leav the quarter and infiltrate the Sanhedria quarter and Har-Hazofim, while 17 other Palmach members were captured by the British, disarmed, released and retreated to Har-Hazofim. 3 Palmach members died during the operation and 32 others were wounded, while on the Arab side, 45 men were killed and 40 others were wounded. Up until the evacuation of Jerusalem, The British forbade any Arab access into the quarter, and enabled transport leading to Har-Hazofim. The inhabitants of the neighboring Arab quarters of Wadi Joz, Bab-El-Sahra and Muzrara were also evacuated as a result of the operation.
Men who died during the operation: Avraham Wald, Yitzhak Landou, and Uri Erlich who was severely wounded and later died of his wounds.
During the War of Independence, the village was used by Arab gang as a base for attacks on northern Jewish quarters, and the traffic leading to Har-Hazofim. On the 13.4.48, 78 people were killed during an attack against a convoy on its way to 'Hadassa' hospital.
The quarter that was considered a key position in the domination of the southern part of the city was to be occupied after the occupation of Nabi Samuel and Shoafat during the second phase of the 'Yevusi operation.
On the night of the 25.4.48, the quarter was attacked by 2 5th battalion companies, under the command of Menachem Rusk:
- The Company under the command of Zivi Zafriri assignment was to occupy the Nashashibi residence located in the northern part of the quarter, and to demolish the houses in the upper quarter. The Company's route: Sneler camp, Sanhedria quarter, Pagi quarter, outflanking the police academy and approaching the Arab quarter from the north.
-
- The Company under the command of Aharon Shemi (Jimi) assignment was to occupy and demolish the houses in the lower quarter. Their route: Shneler camp, The Bukharian quarter, The Zoo, Shmuel Hanavi Street, 'Hapoel' stadium and approaching the Arab quarter from the south-west.
- Six men were wounded while entering the Nashashibi residence. The force managed to occupy the first floor, while 5 Arabs prevented them courageously from reaching the upper flights; meanwhile, the southern force overcame all resistance and methodically demolished houses one after another.
- Straight after the occupation, the British demanded the immediate withdrawal from the quarter, promising that no harm will come to the retreating forces. In spite of their promise, the British opened heavy fire on the retreating Company led by Jimi, injuring 25 men of whom 4 were severely wounded. The British also attacked the northern force, fortified in the Nashashibi residence, killing one man and injuring 7 others.
- At 10:00 AM, the British presented the force with an ultimatum saying they must withdraw from quarter by 18:00 PM, or else they will be forced to use armored tanks. The British explained the importance of controlling the route, and promised not hand the quarter over to Arabs once they evacuated the city and to acCompany the convoys on their way to Har-Hazofim.
- The British granted the Palmach demands to evacuate the Arabs from the upper flights, entered the building, disarmed the Arabs (handing their weapons over to the Palmach!), and left the quarter taking them along with them. The Company continued to demolish the buildings, and at 18:00 PM, the British open fire on the Nashashibi residence and after 20 minutes of heavy fire, the Palmach force requested to negotiate a cease-fire. Brigade commander, Yitzhak Rabin arrived to the quarter in a British tank and arranged the negotiations with the occupiers of the Nashashib residence. The 3 squads were ordered to retreat, and managed to leav the quarter and infiltrate the Sanhedria quarter and Har-Hazofim, while 17 other Palmach members were captured by the British, disarmed, released and retreated to Har-Hazofim. 3 Palmach members died during the operation and 32 others were wounded, while on the Arab side, 45 men were killed and 40 others were wounded. Up until the evacuation of Jerusalem, The British forbade any Arab access into the quarter, and enabled transport leading to Har-Hazofim. The inhabitants of the neighboring Arab quarters of Wadi Joz, Bab-El-Sahra and Muzrara were also evacuated as a result of the operation.
Men who died during the operation: Avraham Wald, Yitzhak Landou, and Uri Erlich who was severely wounded and later died of his wounds.