Matatah Campaign
On the 3rd and 4th May 1948 a secondary operation of the Haganah was undertaken to expel the enemy from the area that extended from Lake Tiberias to the Hula Valley, on both sides of the Tiberias – Metulla road and extending eastwards towards the Jordan River. This operation was an integral part of the Yiftah Campaign.
On the 3rd and 4th May 1948 a secondary operation of the Haganah was undertaken to expel the enemy from the area that extended from Lake Tiberias to the Hula Valley, on both sides of the Tiberias – Metulla road and extending eastwards towards the Jordan River. This operation was an integral part of the Yiftah Campaign.
With assistance of local militia, a unit from the First Brigade of the Palmach was responsible for a major part of this operation. The force set out at dawn from the military camp in the vicinity of Rosh Pinna (Pilon) and began to advance on foot. The area was covered thoroughly and every hostile element they encountered was eliminated.
The Fourth Company, under the command of Shaike Gavish, set out for Kefar Al-Zangriah. As soon as the inhabitants of the village noticed the column they hastily fled across the border to Syria, trying to take their goat herds with them. The sappers with the unit blew up all the houses in the village.
A unit, under the command of "Hakeh" (Yitzhaq Hofi), was transported to Tabga and combed on foot the area of the Bataiche Valley. It destroyed Bedouin encampments. An explicit order was given not to touch monasteries and churches. Hakeh's response to any desecration of these places by troops was harsh and severe.
The Arabs living on the eastern side of the road, up to Jordan all fled to Syria except for the Arab-Al-Hayab Bedouin tribe. It openly associated with the Jewish forces and subsequently took part in some of the military operations in the Galilee.
The result of this operation was that the Upper Galilee became contiguous with the rest of the country. This enabled the unhindered movement of transport to and from the region, dispensing with the need for protected convoys.
A consequence of the occupation of this area and the departure of the indigent Arabs, was that the Arabs who remained – principally in the Hula Valley and in Safad - were cut off from Syria. Their sense of security was undermined and their morale was drastically reduced.
With assistance of local militia, a unit from the First Brigade of the Palmach was responsible for a major part of this operation. The force set out at dawn from the military camp in the vicinity of Rosh Pinna (Pilon) and began to advance on foot. The area was covered thoroughly and every hostile element they encountered was eliminated.
The Fourth Company, under the command of Shaike Gavish, set out for Kefar Al-Zangriah. As soon as the inhabitants of the village noticed the column they hastily fled across the border to Syria, trying to take their goat herds with them. The sappers with the unit blew up all the houses in the village.
A unit, under the command of "Hakeh" (Yitzhaq Hofi), was transported to Tabga and combed on foot the area of the Bataiche Valley. It destroyed Bedouin encampments. An explicit order was given not to touch monasteries and churches. Hakeh's response to any desecration of these places by troops was harsh and severe.
The Arabs living on the eastern side of the road, up to Jordan all fled to Syria except for the Arab-Al-Hayab Bedouin tribe. It openly associated with the Jewish forces and subsequently took part in some of the military operations in the Galilee.
The result of this operation was that the Upper Galilee became contiguous with the rest of the country. This enabled the unhindered movement of transport to and from the region, dispensing with the need for protected convoys.
A consequence of the occupation of this area and the departure of the indigent Arabs, was that the Arabs who remained – principally in the Hula Valley and in Safad - were cut off from Syria. Their sense of security was undermined and their morale was drastically reduced.