The Attempted to lift the siege on Sefad
At the end of April, food products were in short supply. In order to open an approach road to the Jewish Quarter of Safed, it was decided to attack and conquer the Arab villages of Birya and En Zetun in order to enable the 3rd Battalion to enter the city and lift the siege.
On the 1st of May, the men of the 3rd Battalion began their attack on the two villages. When dawn broke, one of the squads found themselves in an inferior position, in open terrain opposite the village of Birya, being fired on by tens of weapons from the houses. The company commander, Moshe Green went to the head of the squad and courageously stormed the outer houses, overpowering two of the houses so that the fighters would have shelter in order to defend themselves. Luckily, the operation brought about the mass departure of the villagers.
The sappers set about blowing up the houses of En Zetun and many Arab inhabitants decided to abandon the town.
On the 1st of May in the afternoon, the 3rd Regiment began to enter the Jewish quarter of Safed bringing supplies of food and arms. Moshe Kalman, the regiment commander, took command of all the fighting forces, (about 200 men) in the city..
On the 6th of May, the fighters carried out their first attacks on several targets in the city. with the fortress marked as the primary target.
The night attack failed: the advance of the security force was very slow, the softening up fire was ineffective and the attack lost the element of surprise and momentum. There was concern that the attacking force would be exposed at daylight, therefore regiment commander Kalman ordered a retreat.
On the 7th Of May, the enemy reinforced its forces: Shishakli placed a battery of field guns in Meron and they shelled the Jewish quarter.
Furthermore, a Syrian company crossed the Jordan and went up to Safed.
The sappers set about blowing up the houses of En Zetun and many Arab inhabitants decided to abandon the town.
On the 1st of May in the afternoon, the 3rd Regiment began to enter the Jewish quarter of Safed bringing supplies of food and arms. Moshe Kalman, the regiment commander, took command of all the fighting forces, (about 200 men) in the city..
On the 6th of May, the fighters carried out their first attacks on several targets in the city. with the fortress marked as the primary target.
The night attack failed: the advance of the security force was very slow, the softening up fire was ineffective and the attack lost the element of surprise and momentum. There was concern that the attacking force would be exposed at daylight, therefore regiment commander Kalman ordered a retreat.
On the 7th Of May, the enemy reinforced its forces: Shishakli placed a battery of field guns in Meron and they shelled the Jewish quarter.
Furthermore, a Syrian company crossed the Jordan and went up to Safed.