The Battles of Mishmar Haemek
At the start of April 44 Kaukaji, commander of the Arab 'Rescue Army' decided to occupy Kibbutz Mishmar Haemek. This was a part of his program to control the roads leading to Haifa - the main road from Nablus and Jenin, and the Wadi Mielekh Road - arelude to capturing Haifa itself.
Kibbutz Mishmar Haemek is situated in Emeq Yizra'el, alongside the Megiddo-Yokneam road, During the period when there was cooperation with the British (1941-42), a forest above the kibbutz served as a training facility for members of the Palmach. In addition, the Palmach's 'German Unit (platoon)' operated from a site close to the kibbutz, known as the 'Palmach Cave'. In the kibbutz' immediate vicinity were a number of Arab villages: Abu Shusha, Ruvia-a-Tahta, Ruvia-a-Fuka, Narnariya, Bet-Rahs, Mansi, Abu-Zurik and Kufrin – which harassed the kibbutz on more than one occasion.
At the start of April 48 Kokaji, commander of the Arab 'Rescue Army' decided to occupy the kibbutz. This was part of his program to control the roads leading to Haifa - the main road from Nablus and Jenin, and the Wadi Mielekh Road - as a prelude to capturing Haifa itself.
To this end, he amassed a particularly large force of about the size of a division, which included two Iraqi battalions: the Qadsia Battalion commanded by Zahlach Mahdi, and the Yarmukh Battalion under Mahmad Zafa. A force from the Hitin Battalion also served under his orders. The neighboring villages acted in coordination with the 'Rescue Army'. All of these were assisted by two batteries of field cannons, 81 mm mortars and a company of 10 armored vehicles. For a force of this size the task appeared easy, and was expected to be carried out without difficulties. After all, the target was only a small kibbutz. It should be noted that until then, no Arab force had succeeded in occupying - and taking control of any Jewish settlement.
At the start of April 48 Kokaji, commander of the Arab 'Rescue Army' decided to occupy the kibbutz. This was part of his program to control the roads leading to Haifa - the main road from Nablus and Jenin, and the Wadi Mielekh Road - as a prelude to capturing Haifa itself.
To this end, he amassed a particularly large force of about the size of a division, which included two Iraqi battalions: the Qadsia Battalion commanded by Zahlach Mahdi, and the Yarmukh Battalion under Mahmad Zafa. A force from the Hitin Battalion also served under his orders. The neighboring villages acted in coordination with the 'Rescue Army'. All of these were assisted by two batteries of field cannons, 81 mm mortars and a company of 10 armored vehicles. For a force of this size the task appeared easy, and was expected to be carried out without difficulties. After all, the target was only a small kibbutz. It should be noted that until then, no Arab force had succeeded in occupying - and taking control of any Jewish settlement.