The Background – The Situation
The desperate situation of besieged Jerusalem called for another effort to open the road through the Latrun salient, before the first cease-fire. The task was given to the Fifth Battalion of the “Harel” brigade.
As June began, the calls for help from besieged Jerusalem became increasingly urgent. Since it was now certain that a cease-fire would come into effect on June 11, Ben-Gurion decided that before fighting stopped, a third attack must be made on Latrun, despite the two earlier failures. This time, the task (to be named “Operation Yoram”) was given to two of the Palmach’s three brigades --- “Yiftach” and “Harel”.
The “Harel” brigade was already on the spot; but its battalions had been fighting continuously for months, under very difficult conditions. They had lost many men, and were in a bad way. Nonetheless, the brunt of the task fell upon the undermanned and exhausted Fifth Battalion of “Harel”.
The “Harel” brigade was already on the spot; but its battalions had been fighting continuously for months, under very difficult conditions. They had lost many men, and were in a bad way. Nonetheless, the brunt of the task fell upon the undermanned and exhausted Fifth Battalion of “Harel”.