The Operation ‘Mountain’ order
Aims, enemy forces, objectives, plan.
Aims:
To support the eastern wing of Operation ‘Yoav’.
To open the Beit-Jubrin road, this would then be utilized as an additional road to the Negev.
To occupy Beit-Jalah and liberate Jerusalem from the south.
To deliver Gush Etzion; to dominate the Hebron Range.
To cut off the enemy’s lines of supply on the Jerusalem-Jericho road.
Enemy forces:
About 1500 troops were positioned in the region between Hebron and Wadi-Tsarar, among them two regular companies (Egyptian and Jordanian) and a number of armoured cars belonging to the Jordanian Legion.
Objectives:
§ The occupation of Dir el-Hawva and Beit-Jemal, key points for the continuation of the operation in two ways – for Beit Jubrin and to cut off the Hebron-Jerusalem road.
§ The occupation of Ras-Jalah and the areas surrounding Bethlehem and the liberation of Jerusalem from the south.
Plan:
The 4th Battalion (‘HaPortzim’) to capture Dir el-Hawva with two companies.
5th Battalion (Sha’ar HaGai) to capture the Dir-Aban ridge (‘The Joint Position’)
10th Battalion and an armoured unit from the Armoured Battalion to occupy Beit Jemal.
To support the eastern wing of Operation ‘Yoav’.
To open the Beit-Jubrin road, this would then be utilized as an additional road to the Negev.
To occupy Beit-Jalah and liberate Jerusalem from the south.
To deliver Gush Etzion; to dominate the Hebron Range.
To cut off the enemy’s lines of supply on the Jerusalem-Jericho road.
Enemy forces:
About 1500 troops were positioned in the region between Hebron and Wadi-Tsarar, among them two regular companies (Egyptian and Jordanian) and a number of armoured cars belonging to the Jordanian Legion.
Objectives:
§ The occupation of Dir el-Hawva and Beit-Jemal, key points for the continuation of the operation in two ways – for Beit Jubrin and to cut off the Hebron-Jerusalem road.
§ The occupation of Ras-Jalah and the areas surrounding Bethlehem and the liberation of Jerusalem from the south.
Plan:
The 4th Battalion (‘HaPortzim’) to capture Dir el-Hawva with two companies.
5th Battalion (Sha’ar HaGai) to capture the Dir-Aban ridge (‘The Joint Position’)
10th Battalion and an armoured unit from the Armoured Battalion to occupy Beit Jemal.