The first attempt to reach Gush Ezion
The first attempt was made on the night of 15.1.48.
Danny Mass, former commandant of the Gush Ezion, and now second-in-command of the Sixth Battalion of the Palmach, was put in command of the force, which included 7 N.C.O’s and two medical orderlies. The weapons included 4 machine guns, 16 rifles, 20 Sten sub-machine guns, and 70 hand grenades - an enormous quantity of equipment, for those days. The unit, which was to make its way for the Gush Ezion on foot, was to carry out reprisals in villages near the Gush, and to sabotage the Jerusalem-Hebron road. For this reason they were carrying a quantity of explosives. They also had with them medical supplies, for treating the wounded of the Gush, who could not be brought to Jerusalem.
The first attempt was made on the night of 15.1.48. The platoon planned to move on foot along a 20-kilometer route (which had many up-hill and down-hills paths, and also several detours around Arab villages), starting from Beit Hakerem neighborhood and going past the Cremisan monastery. Delays in bringing up the weapons, led to a delay of 5 hours in the platoon setting out. They left at 0100 and had difficulty finding the way, due mainly to heavy fog, and returned to Beit Hakerem at 0400 to avoid been seen by daylight.
The first attempt was made on the night of 15.1.48. The platoon planned to move on foot along a 20-kilometer route (which had many up-hill and down-hills paths, and also several detours around Arab villages), starting from Beit Hakerem neighborhood and going past the Cremisan monastery. Delays in bringing up the weapons, led to a delay of 5 hours in the platoon setting out. They left at 0100 and had difficulty finding the way, due mainly to heavy fog, and returned to Beit Hakerem at 0400 to avoid been seen by daylight.