Operation "Bin-Nun"
Two bloody attacks were launched on the Latrun enclave by the Seventh Armored Division with assistance from the Alexandri and Givati Divisions. These attacks failed and the losses were heavy.
Because of the urgent need to break through the barrier of the Latrun enclave on the road to Jerusalem, it was decided to attack the enclave with armored and artillery units that were established at that time. At the end of May, the 7th Division attacked the Latrun enclave twice. The first time (Bin Nun Aleph) with the assistance of an infantry battalion from the Alexandri Division and the second time (Bin-Nun Bet) with the assistance of an infantry battalion from the Givati Division and the Sixth Battalion of the Palmach which was part of the new 73rd armored battalion. The fighting was difficult. In Bin-Nun Aleph the troops encountered fighting in broad daylight and in Bin- Nun Bet they fought until dawn. Both attacks failed. There were many casualties. More than 100 soldiers were killed. It was one of the most painful defeats of that period, and it had repercussions among the leaders of the state, the general staff, as well as among the army rank and file.