The Execution of the Operation and its Results
John Darcy, one of the British army commanders, commented on the operation by saying: "One can immediately recognize that this is the work of the Palmach."
Raphael Ginsburg ("Tarnegol"), of the First Battalion, once again headed the breakthrough squad of five saboteurs. The night before, the attacking force did arrive at the outskirts of the target area, but due to the late hour and the full moon, Rivkind decided to cancel the operation. The Palmach HQ ordered the force to execute the operation the following night. The rainy weather did make the movement of the force more cumbersome, but allowed for a discreet advancement up to the fences. The five saboteurs broke the first two fences. The lit and exposed area between the second and third fence required slow creeping: A ten meters distance took an hour and a half to cross. After breaking the third fence, the saboteurs came to the wall that surrounded the radar facility. They dropped the explosives inside and retreated once already spotted, and while the charges were exploding. Most of the radar was shattered.
The attacking force managed to sneak out without hitting the British military forces, who opened fierce fire and pursued the force. The warriors hid their weapons in a synagogue in Achuza neighborhood in Haifa, and safely returned to their base in kibbutz Yagur by detour. The British continued to search for them on paths and roads leading to Haifa neighborhoods, but to no avail.
The fact that the Palmach succeeded in infiltrating the Mt. Carmel base once again, despite the British awareness that the radar facility was under target and the increased security around it, proved the efficiency of its continuous training. That training was the most significant aspect of the Palmach unit life.
John Darcy, one of the British army commanders, commented on the operation by saying: "One can immediately recognize this is the work of the Palmach."
The attacking force managed to sneak out without hitting the British military forces, who opened fierce fire and pursued the force. The warriors hid their weapons in a synagogue in Achuza neighborhood in Haifa, and safely returned to their base in kibbutz Yagur by detour. The British continued to search for them on paths and roads leading to Haifa neighborhoods, but to no avail.
The fact that the Palmach succeeded in infiltrating the Mt. Carmel base once again, despite the British awareness that the radar facility was under target and the increased security around it, proved the efficiency of its continuous training. That training was the most significant aspect of the Palmach unit life.
John Darcy, one of the British army commanders, commented on the operation by saying: "One can immediately recognize this is the work of the Palmach."