The Palmach Leaves: The Jewish Quarter Retaken by the Arab Legion
Despite what had been agreed, and despite repeated appeals, no reinforcements appeared to defend the Jewish Quarter and to relieve the handful of Palmach men who had fought their way into it. Early the following morning, the exhausted Palmach unit returned to Mount Zion. The Arab Legion renewed its attack on the Jewish Quarter, which surrendered ten days later.
When it became evident that no relief was coming, the possibility of maintaining the corridor into the Jewish Quarter was examined. It was seen that the Armenian entrance controlled the entire area of the corridor. An attempt to capture the important “Cross Outpost” failed; the Arabs had already dug in. Meanwhile, day was breaking.
There was an angry exchange between Uzi Narkis, commanding the Palmach contingent, and Shaltiel and Gazit. He demanded that forces be sent in to relieve the exhausted Palmach fighters, and to organize the defence of the Quarter. But nothing happened. At 0630 the men of the Fourth Battalion left the Jewish Quarter. They returned to Mount Zion, and from there went on to Qiryat Anavim. During the hours that followed, the Zion Gate and the corridor to the Jewish Quarter remained unmanned and unguarded. A precious opportunity was lost, in which control of large areas of the Old City could have been gained. At midday, two companies of the Jordanian Legion arrived. They attacked the Jewish Quarter for ten days: after which it surrendered.
There was an angry exchange between Uzi Narkis, commanding the Palmach contingent, and Shaltiel and Gazit. He demanded that forces be sent in to relieve the exhausted Palmach fighters, and to organize the defence of the Quarter. But nothing happened. At 0630 the men of the Fourth Battalion left the Jewish Quarter. They returned to Mount Zion, and from there went on to Qiryat Anavim. During the hours that followed, the Zion Gate and the corridor to the Jewish Quarter remained unmanned and unguarded. A precious opportunity was lost, in which control of large areas of the Old City could have been gained. At midday, two companies of the Jordanian Legion arrived. They attacked the Jewish Quarter for ten days: after which it surrendered.