The Battle for Ramot Naftali
The successful operation of two light "Primus" aircraft decided the outcome of the skirmish. They parachuted a small quantity of ammunition and medical supplies, caused the cannons to end their shelling and the Arabs – who were already close to the protective barrier – to withdraw.
The Ramot Naftali Moshav was established in 1945 in the Upper Galilee. About 2 kms. north of it lay the Nabi Yeshu fortress, which was surrounded by the Arab villages of Nebi Yusha, Qedesh, Malkiyya and Dishon, and by an encampment of the Bedouin Al-Hamdoun tribe. In the months of February-May 1948 the main Arab force in the area was affiliated to the "Rescue Army", commanded by Adiv Shishakli and which was well equipped with cannons, mortars and machine guns.
In mid-April 48, when the British handed over the Nabi Yeshu fortress to the Arabs, a new situation was created on the ground: the Arabs now controlled the road ascending from the Emeq /Valley to settlements on the mountain, which found themselves under siege.
The Nabi Musa fortress was twice attacked unsuccessfully - on 16.4 and 20.4.
On the night of 23.4 a Palmach unit arrived at Ramot Naftali to assist in transferring the women and children to a safer place. Each fighter brought with him a small can containing five liters of water. The moshav became a military settlement. A Palmach unit sent there was stationed on a hill to the north, where it engaged in training, guarding transport on the road ascending from Emeq Afula to the Naftali ridge, and setting up ambushes. There were 25 people living in the settlement, including 4 women, and they were joined by a reinforcement of 25 field combat corps members from the 11th battalion in Haifa.
On 1.5.48 the enemy forces launched an assault on Ramat Naftali. It began with a storming of the position at Bilawi and the eight defenders holding it were forced to withdraw. The Arabs brought forward six armored vehicles with tanks, which broke every barrier they encountered, and began to make a forced entry into the settlement. One of the women defenders fired a shot in the direction of an armored vehicle's tank, and when this started burning, the other vehicles withdrew. Meanwhile cannons from Malkiyya and Qedesh joined the fray, and with precise firing managed to kill 5 and injure 25. The clinic was hit directly and destroyed, and the defenders were running out of ammunition.
In mid-April 48, when the British handed over the Nabi Yeshu fortress to the Arabs, a new situation was created on the ground: the Arabs now controlled the road ascending from the Emeq /Valley to settlements on the mountain, which found themselves under siege.
The Nabi Musa fortress was twice attacked unsuccessfully - on 16.4 and 20.4.
On the night of 23.4 a Palmach unit arrived at Ramot Naftali to assist in transferring the women and children to a safer place. Each fighter brought with him a small can containing five liters of water. The moshav became a military settlement. A Palmach unit sent there was stationed on a hill to the north, where it engaged in training, guarding transport on the road ascending from Emeq Afula to the Naftali ridge, and setting up ambushes. There were 25 people living in the settlement, including 4 women, and they were joined by a reinforcement of 25 field combat corps members from the 11th battalion in Haifa.
On 1.5.48 the enemy forces launched an assault on Ramat Naftali. It began with a storming of the position at Bilawi and the eight defenders holding it were forced to withdraw. The Arabs brought forward six armored vehicles with tanks, which broke every barrier they encountered, and began to make a forced entry into the settlement. One of the women defenders fired a shot in the direction of an armored vehicle's tank, and when this started burning, the other vehicles withdrew. Meanwhile cannons from Malkiyya and Qedesh joined the fray, and with precise firing managed to kill 5 and injure 25. The clinic was hit directly and destroyed, and the defenders were running out of ammunition.