The Operation
The three infantry companies set out on the night of 24.4.48, over the ridge of the Qastel. “A” company took Beit Iksa, but was surprised by an Arab counter-attack. Fighting off the counter-attack disrupted the timetable; occupation of Iksa was not completed till 0200.
The command post of the Fourth Battalion was set up on the main road to Jerusalem, beside a dirt road leading to Nabi Samuel. The headquarters company of the battalion, with a few armored vehicles and “Davidka”, and commanded by Micha Perry, set out along the dirt track toward Beit Iksa. It was to be a holding force during the capture of the village.
Three infantry companies left the Qastel and moved toward Beit Iksa.
The first objective was the capture of Beit Iksa. Only after this was accomplished, would the two other companies move: “B” company, under Poza, to take Nabi Samuel, and “C” company, under Uri Ben-Ari, to block the road from the village of Bidu, which had been captured a few days earlier.
Micha’s company soon found its way barred by entrenchments. The company turned back. The capture of Beit Iksa was delayed because of errors of navigation: the village was taken much later than planned. Heavy fog that night hampered all movement.
Since the forces had all been delayed, the regimental commander considered calling off the operation. It is not clear whether the commander’s order to withdraw ever reached Poza.
As Poza’s company was about to begin its assault, the fog lifted, and his men were revealed in broad daylight, exposed to enemy fire from inside a building. They withdrew with heavy losses --- Poza among them --- under covering fire from “A” and “C” companies.
At this point it as decided to send in the armored unit to cover the withdrawal. They were to reach Nabi Samuel by a track from Ma’aleh Hahamisha, which leads past the radar station and Bidu village, to Nabi Samuel.
This company was attacked by units of the Arab Legion which were in the radar station, and suffered heavy casualties. The battalion’s losses were 38 killed, and 40 wounded --- almost a whole company.
The failure of this attack made it necessary to evacuate Bidu and Beit Surik. The unit from the Fifth Battalion, which had captured Shu’afat, was also ordered to withdraw from that village.
Three infantry companies left the Qastel and moved toward Beit Iksa.
The first objective was the capture of Beit Iksa. Only after this was accomplished, would the two other companies move: “B” company, under Poza, to take Nabi Samuel, and “C” company, under Uri Ben-Ari, to block the road from the village of Bidu, which had been captured a few days earlier.
Micha’s company soon found its way barred by entrenchments. The company turned back. The capture of Beit Iksa was delayed because of errors of navigation: the village was taken much later than planned. Heavy fog that night hampered all movement.
Since the forces had all been delayed, the regimental commander considered calling off the operation. It is not clear whether the commander’s order to withdraw ever reached Poza.
As Poza’s company was about to begin its assault, the fog lifted, and his men were revealed in broad daylight, exposed to enemy fire from inside a building. They withdrew with heavy losses --- Poza among them --- under covering fire from “A” and “C” companies.
At this point it as decided to send in the armored unit to cover the withdrawal. They were to reach Nabi Samuel by a track from Ma’aleh Hahamisha, which leads past the radar station and Bidu village, to Nabi Samuel.
This company was attacked by units of the Arab Legion which were in the radar station, and suffered heavy casualties. The battalion’s losses were 38 killed, and 40 wounded --- almost a whole company.
The failure of this attack made it necessary to evacuate Bidu and Beit Surik. The unit from the Fifth Battalion, which had captured Shu’afat, was also ordered to withdraw from that village.