Operation "Maccabi" (Stage2)
At the Supreme Command, it was decided to seek a decisive outcome in the western section, and to open the road from Latrun to Sha'ar Hagai. The task was entrusted to the Golani Brigade' in coordination with the Harel Brigade. On the night of 14.5 the operation commenced : the villages of Abu Shusha and Naana were occupied by fighters from 'Givati.'
At the Supreme Command , it was decided to seek a decisive outcome in the western section, and to open the road from Latrun to Sha'ar Hagai. The task was entrusted to the Golani Brigade in coordination with the Harel Brigade.
On the night of 14.5 the operation commenced : the villages of Abu Shusha and Naana were occupied by fighters from 'Givati.'
On the night of 15.5 an enlarged group of fighters led by Zvi Tzur captured the village of El Kubab.
On 15.5.1948, Israel's first day of independence, on which the invasion of the Arab armies began, several important changes took place in the area:
Most of the Givati'units were transferred to the southern front, in order to head off the Egyptian invader. Only Battalion 52, led by Yaakov Peri-Prolov remained in the area, under the command of the Harel Brigade.
Forces of the 'Rescue Army' left the region, in able to enable the Jordanian Legion to replace them, so that for three days – from 15.5. – 17.5 – there was no Arab army in the area. However, being unaware of this, Harel's headquarters did not exploit the situation, which could have enabled it to capture the Latrun-Deir Ayubridge.
On the night of 14.5 the operation commenced : the villages of Abu Shusha and Naana were occupied by fighters from 'Givati.'
On the night of 15.5 an enlarged group of fighters led by Zvi Tzur captured the village of El Kubab.
On 15.5.1948, Israel's first day of independence, on which the invasion of the Arab armies began, several important changes took place in the area:
Most of the Givati'units were transferred to the southern front, in order to head off the Egyptian invader. Only Battalion 52, led by Yaakov Peri-Prolov remained in the area, under the command of the Harel Brigade.
Forces of the 'Rescue Army' left the region, in able to enable the Jordanian Legion to replace them, so that for three days – from 15.5. – 17.5 – there was no Arab army in the area. However, being unaware of this, Harel's headquarters did not exploit the situation, which could have enabled it to capture the Latrun-Deir Ayubridge.