The Seventh Battalion – Bee’r Sheva (Hanegev Brigade)
The night before the Egyptian invasion, the Palmach headquarters decided to reinforce Hanegev Brigade with two additional battalions in addition to the two existing ones; the Second and the Eighth. Yoske Ribkind (which will later be known as Yariv) was appointed in charge of the Seventh Battalion and would later become the battalion's assistant commander alongside its commander Yonatan Zariz. On the 14th of May the final decision was made and the Negev Brigade received an infantry battalion. Initially the battalion comprised of two companies; one under the command of Hayim (Diki) Laksberg from Kibbutz Giva'at Brener, and the other under the command of Nahum Bernstein from Kibbutz Hulta. The companies' and units' commanders were appointed from the Palmach's Reserve Forces. The battalion's first commander was Yohanan Zariz. The battalion's men participated in the various battles which took place in the Negev, until the liberation of Eilat in March 1947.
The Negev Brigade - 9
The night before the Egyptian invasion, the Palmach headquarters decided to reinforce Hanegev Brigade with two additional battalions in addition to the two existing ones; the Second and the Eighth. Yoske Ribkind (which will later be known as Yariv) was appointed in charge of the Seventh Battalion and would later become the battalion's assistant commander alongside its commander Yonatan Zariz. On the 14th of May the final decision was made and the Negev Brigade received an infantry battalion.
The battalion's men were assembled from the Hachsharot (recruited training – groups of young men and women who underwent a program of combined military training, agricultural work and Zionist education), from young Olim (illegal immigrants), cadets of Shurut Hameginim (the Defense Lines - an organization set up in Cyprus by the Palamch and involved educational instruction and military training) which have just arrived from the illegal immigrant’s camps in Cyprus, and a group of young men from the Moshav (community settlement) 'Beit Oved'. The largest group of recruited training cadets was of the Scouts F whose last school year was shortened by a month, allowing them to train in Kibbutz Na'an and Shiler group settlement for a short while. The two other recruited training groups came from the Shomer Hatzair (the Youth Guard – a socialist Jewish youth movement) staying in those days at the Kibbutzs Yavne and Hatzor. The battalion initially comprised of two companies; one under the command of Hayim (Diki) Laksberg from Kibbutz Giva'at Brener, and the other under the command of Nahum Bernstein from Kibbutz Hulta. The companies' and units' commanders were appointed from the Palmach's Reserve Forces.
Following a three days long drill in Giva'at Brener and in Rishon Lezion, the Seventh Battalion's convoy left for the Negev on the night of the 23rd of May 1948 and settled in the Wadi near Kibbutz Ruhama. During the first two weeks of their stay in the Negev, the battalion's' freshmen' participated in a number of operations in the framework of the Negev Brigade's attempt to block the Egyptian's army progress, to evacuate the Arab villages of the Negev region (Muhraqa, Qaufacha, hoj and Beit Tema) and to help the Jewish settlements' of the Western Negev to defend themselves. Operation Pleshet intended to delay the Egyptian army's progress on the south of Yavne [Ad Halom (up to here) Bridge]; the Negev Brigade's mission was to take control of the village Ishdud. Although the mission failed, the operation did achieve its primal goal and the Egyptian force did not continue its progress northwards. Fourteen of the battalion's men were killed in the attack and in the course of the retreat to Kibbutz Nizzanim.
At that time Oded Peker replaced Yoske Ribkind (the battalion’s assistant commander), Tzvi Ram was appointed commander of one of the infantry companies and Yehuda Shalev was appointed commander of the Staff Company.
At the beginning of June the United Nations began to arrange a cease fire. The Negev Brigade was to attack and take control of the Iraqi – Swidan Police Building (Operation Magen) before the cease fire. This was the second attempt that failed to conquer this important post. The Egyptians too hurried to attack before the cease fire and managed to take control of the junction posts on the road from Majdal to Faluja and thus disconnected the Negev from the rest of the country for four months, up until Operation Yoav.
The Negev Squadron's light planes functioned as the vital connection vehicles between the disconnected Negev and the rest of the country. The Seventh Battalion's scouts renewed the use of the infantry convoys’ path between Kibbutz Regba and Kawkaba by guiding the entering and exiting convoys. In the course of the cease fire the battalion transferred to the wadi near Kibbutz Dorot; the men trained in professions such as sabotaging, scouting, operating medium machine guns (Beja) and mortars. That month Uzi Narkis replaced Yohanan Zariz and Me’irke Pilbeski (an active member) replaced Oded Peker. The battalion's men received their military identity cards and personal numbers and on the 18th of June sworn loyalty to the Israeli Defense Forces.
One day prior to the official termination of the cease fire on the 9th of July, 1948, the Egyptian army opened an attack and conquered posts 113 and 138 as well as the villages of Hulik'at and Kawkaba. This achievement improved their situation and created the Detachment Strip of the Negev. A force from the Seventh Battalion took control of three posts on the south of Krati'a village in order to prevent the Egyptians from expanding the Detachment Strip. These circumstances brought about the maturing of An - Per Operation whose purpose was to break a way through to the besieged Negev (the Ten Day Battles). The Negev Brigade was in charge of the renewed attack on the Iraqi – Swidan police building. On the night of the 8th of July the Seventh Battalion attacked the police building but failed once again. The attack resulted in many casualties and one fatality. In order to prevent the Egyptians from breaking through from Gaza towards the road to Bee’r Sheva, one of the battalion's companies blocked the road near Kibbutz Sa'ad’s Junction. A heavy Egyptian bombing, accompanied by an attack of armored vehicles, forced the company to retreat. The situation demanded that the I.D.F initiate an attack in order to break a way through to the Negev. In the framework of Operation Mavet Lapolesh (Death to the invader) the Negev Brigade was to conquer the village Abu Jaber and the posts of Hulik'at. Giv’ati Brigade was also to operate within the framework of this operation. On the night of the 16th of July a combined force from the Ninth Battalion and a company from the Seventh Battalion attacked and conquered the village of Abu Jaber. On the following night a combined force of a jeep company from the Ninth Battalion and an infantry company from the Seventh Battalion, under the command of Hayim Laksberg, attacked the post in Hulik'at. The attack failed; the infantry company suffered many casualties (twenty one men, including its commander, Diki, were killed) and the forces were ordered to retreat. The fighters of the Seventh Battalion set out on a series of raids, road mining and transport sabotage operations, and forayed the villages of Bet Tima and Dir Sinaid.
On the 19th of July the second cease fire came into force without a set deadline. The Ten Day Battles in the Negev did not resolve the conflict. The Detachment Strip was still in Egyptian hands and the Negev remained under seize. Despite the cease fire, the Palmach continued to try and open a way through to the Negev. On the night of the 27th of July a convoy of supplies tried to penetrate the Detachment Strip (near Kfar Kritya); the Egyptians opened gun and cannon fire and the convoy had to retreat. All future attempts to convey supplies with jeeps failed.
In the course of Operation Gis (One and Two) the battalion attempted to take control of two Arab villages in order to convey supplies to the Negev. These attempts failed; over time, only one convoy out of many which tried to reach the Negev, succeeded. The Seventh Battalion's scouts were engaged in navigating the convoys. In the course of August the battalion's men continued touring the Egyptian controlled territories and daily observed the roads and railways along the shore. Two of the battalion's scouts were killed from an Egyptian bombing on their post in Bee’rot Isa'ac.
The Negev Brigade desperately needed to rest and reorganize in order to prepare for its future operations; it was decided that Yiftach Brigade would replace it and take charge of the Negev region. On the 30th of August the Brigade completed its evacuation from the Negev (the healthy fighters went along the Infantry Convoy Path while the injured were flown together with the equipment in Dakota plains). The Brigade settled in Bee’r Ya'akov camp and used the time to rest, to go on vacations and to receive reinforcement from the new immigrants (the Gahal). For the first time the battalion's men went through an organized training series. Uri Baner (Ben Ari) replaced Me’irke Pilbeski as the battalion’s deputy commander; Solel Cohen and Zee’v (Tiki) Tikotinski were appointed commanders of Infantry Company A and B (respectably). The Staff Company included the scouts platoon and the Welfare Platoon.
In the course of Operation Yoav (The Ten Strikes) a combined force from the Seventh and the 82nd (the Eighth Brigade) battalions were to attack and take control of the village Iraq –El – Manshia. The attack failed and resulted in a large number of casualties as the attackers were forced to retreat. These were the battalion's hardest times. The men concentrated and camped for the night in the deserted Arab village Qastina. An anonymous man who wished to raise the men's spirits wrote (with white paint and big letters) on a wall "The Seventh Battalion will rise again" and "And after all and despite all – Palmach". For many years since, one could spot these inscriptions from the nearby road. As days went by, these inscriptions vanished, along with the village's houses.
The Negev Brigade’s 'dream' (the conquest of Bee’r Sheva) was about to become a reality; some of the goals of Operation Yoav were altered according to the situation in the battlefields. While the Seventh Battalion was preparing itself to attack Iraq- El- Manshia, a scouts company was sent to Kibbutz Kelta (Hazerim) in order to patrol and examine the area in advance. This mission was decided upon while the Israeli government was requested by the United Nations to give its consent to the cease fire. On the night between the 19th and 29th of October, Giv'ati Brigade attacked and took control of the posts in Hulik'at, thus opening the way for a convoy of the Seventh Battalion and the 82nd and 88th Battalions of the Eights Brigade, which made its way to the assembly area. The battalion's two infantry companies participated in Operation Moshe; at early dawn the Negev Brigade gained control over the city and the Egyptian commander announced his surrender.
The Seventh Battalion moved to Bee’r Sheva and settled in one of its neighborhoods. Ishkha Demi replaced Uzi Narkis which was appointed the operations officer. The Seventh Battalion received reinforcement of recruits coming from abroad and a third infantry company (Company C) was set up under the command of Yehuda (Izeb) Izebski.
The Negev Brigade was to renew the ground connection with Sodom (Operation Lot) which was sustained for six months through light airplanes. The Seventh Battalion's scouts patrolled along the rout and on the 23rd of November units form the Negev Brigade took control of Ras Zawira and Kornov police, thus renewing the ground connection with Sodom.
Operation Horev was designated to defeat the Egyptian army and to push it beyond the Israeli border. The first mission was to take over the posts of Thamila and Mushirfa which dominated the road axis of Bir Asluj – Uza El Hafir. At early dawn on the 25th of December a mission force from the Seventh and the Ninth Battalions left Bee’r Sheva and a bit after midnight managed to take control of the Mushirfa post. At midnight Company B attacked and took control of Bir Thamil post while the French Commando attacked and took control of post Yud Daled (14). After a night of Egyptian counterattacks which resulted in many casualties, the French Commando's men were forced to retreat from the post. At first dawn the Ninth Battalion attacked and took control of all the road's posts. On the following day, after the Eighth Brigade conquered Auza El Hafir (Nizzana) with the assistance of the Fifth Battalion (from Yiftach Brigade), the Negev Brigade continued to move into the Sinai Peninsula and crossed the International border (with Egypt). The Brigade's convoy encountered fire from one of the Um Katef posts but was not able to progress until a force of the Seventh Battalion came to its rescue. The reinforced Company B from the Seventh Battalion attacked and took control of the hills which dominated the road axis.
Abu Agila was taken without a fight. The Seventh Battalion participated in protecting the town. Following the decision to evacuate the Sinai Peninsula, the Seventh Battalion returned to Bee’r Sheva on the 3rd of January 1949. A short while later it was transferred to reorganize in Bet Daras camp (near Bee’r Tuvia). The plan was that the battalion would get back into military shape but at the same time the recruited training members begun to prepare themselves for the settlements. On the 2nd of March 1949 the Battalion's staff received the order to get ready to go on Operation Uvada (fact). This was a very complicated logistic operation which involved the Air Force.
The success of this operation was perpetuated by the raising of Degel Hadio (the ink flag) and with a modest ceremony on the shores of the red sea.
The battalion returned to its camp in Bet Daras, completing its role in the War of Independence. The battalion's men were released, some of them were posted in different units as commanders, and some continued to higher education.
The battalion's men were assembled from the Hachsharot (recruited training – groups of young men and women who underwent a program of combined military training, agricultural work and Zionist education), from young Olim (illegal immigrants), cadets of Shurut Hameginim (the Defense Lines - an organization set up in Cyprus by the Palamch and involved educational instruction and military training) which have just arrived from the illegal immigrant’s camps in Cyprus, and a group of young men from the Moshav (community settlement) 'Beit Oved'. The largest group of recruited training cadets was of the Scouts F whose last school year was shortened by a month, allowing them to train in Kibbutz Na'an and Shiler group settlement for a short while. The two other recruited training groups came from the Shomer Hatzair (the Youth Guard – a socialist Jewish youth movement) staying in those days at the Kibbutzs Yavne and Hatzor. The battalion initially comprised of two companies; one under the command of Hayim (Diki) Laksberg from Kibbutz Giva'at Brener, and the other under the command of Nahum Bernstein from Kibbutz Hulta. The companies' and units' commanders were appointed from the Palmach's Reserve Forces.
Following a three days long drill in Giva'at Brener and in Rishon Lezion, the Seventh Battalion's convoy left for the Negev on the night of the 23rd of May 1948 and settled in the Wadi near Kibbutz Ruhama. During the first two weeks of their stay in the Negev, the battalion's' freshmen' participated in a number of operations in the framework of the Negev Brigade's attempt to block the Egyptian's army progress, to evacuate the Arab villages of the Negev region (Muhraqa, Qaufacha, hoj and Beit Tema) and to help the Jewish settlements' of the Western Negev to defend themselves. Operation Pleshet intended to delay the Egyptian army's progress on the south of Yavne [Ad Halom (up to here) Bridge]; the Negev Brigade's mission was to take control of the village Ishdud. Although the mission failed, the operation did achieve its primal goal and the Egyptian force did not continue its progress northwards. Fourteen of the battalion's men were killed in the attack and in the course of the retreat to Kibbutz Nizzanim.
At that time Oded Peker replaced Yoske Ribkind (the battalion’s assistant commander), Tzvi Ram was appointed commander of one of the infantry companies and Yehuda Shalev was appointed commander of the Staff Company.
At the beginning of June the United Nations began to arrange a cease fire. The Negev Brigade was to attack and take control of the Iraqi – Swidan Police Building (Operation Magen) before the cease fire. This was the second attempt that failed to conquer this important post. The Egyptians too hurried to attack before the cease fire and managed to take control of the junction posts on the road from Majdal to Faluja and thus disconnected the Negev from the rest of the country for four months, up until Operation Yoav.
The Negev Squadron's light planes functioned as the vital connection vehicles between the disconnected Negev and the rest of the country. The Seventh Battalion's scouts renewed the use of the infantry convoys’ path between Kibbutz Regba and Kawkaba by guiding the entering and exiting convoys. In the course of the cease fire the battalion transferred to the wadi near Kibbutz Dorot; the men trained in professions such as sabotaging, scouting, operating medium machine guns (Beja) and mortars. That month Uzi Narkis replaced Yohanan Zariz and Me’irke Pilbeski (an active member) replaced Oded Peker. The battalion's men received their military identity cards and personal numbers and on the 18th of June sworn loyalty to the Israeli Defense Forces.
One day prior to the official termination of the cease fire on the 9th of July, 1948, the Egyptian army opened an attack and conquered posts 113 and 138 as well as the villages of Hulik'at and Kawkaba. This achievement improved their situation and created the Detachment Strip of the Negev. A force from the Seventh Battalion took control of three posts on the south of Krati'a village in order to prevent the Egyptians from expanding the Detachment Strip. These circumstances brought about the maturing of An - Per Operation whose purpose was to break a way through to the besieged Negev (the Ten Day Battles). The Negev Brigade was in charge of the renewed attack on the Iraqi – Swidan police building. On the night of the 8th of July the Seventh Battalion attacked the police building but failed once again. The attack resulted in many casualties and one fatality. In order to prevent the Egyptians from breaking through from Gaza towards the road to Bee’r Sheva, one of the battalion's companies blocked the road near Kibbutz Sa'ad’s Junction. A heavy Egyptian bombing, accompanied by an attack of armored vehicles, forced the company to retreat. The situation demanded that the I.D.F initiate an attack in order to break a way through to the Negev. In the framework of Operation Mavet Lapolesh (Death to the invader) the Negev Brigade was to conquer the village Abu Jaber and the posts of Hulik'at. Giv’ati Brigade was also to operate within the framework of this operation. On the night of the 16th of July a combined force from the Ninth Battalion and a company from the Seventh Battalion attacked and conquered the village of Abu Jaber. On the following night a combined force of a jeep company from the Ninth Battalion and an infantry company from the Seventh Battalion, under the command of Hayim Laksberg, attacked the post in Hulik'at. The attack failed; the infantry company suffered many casualties (twenty one men, including its commander, Diki, were killed) and the forces were ordered to retreat. The fighters of the Seventh Battalion set out on a series of raids, road mining and transport sabotage operations, and forayed the villages of Bet Tima and Dir Sinaid.
On the 19th of July the second cease fire came into force without a set deadline. The Ten Day Battles in the Negev did not resolve the conflict. The Detachment Strip was still in Egyptian hands and the Negev remained under seize. Despite the cease fire, the Palmach continued to try and open a way through to the Negev. On the night of the 27th of July a convoy of supplies tried to penetrate the Detachment Strip (near Kfar Kritya); the Egyptians opened gun and cannon fire and the convoy had to retreat. All future attempts to convey supplies with jeeps failed.
In the course of Operation Gis (One and Two) the battalion attempted to take control of two Arab villages in order to convey supplies to the Negev. These attempts failed; over time, only one convoy out of many which tried to reach the Negev, succeeded. The Seventh Battalion's scouts were engaged in navigating the convoys. In the course of August the battalion's men continued touring the Egyptian controlled territories and daily observed the roads and railways along the shore. Two of the battalion's scouts were killed from an Egyptian bombing on their post in Bee’rot Isa'ac.
The Negev Brigade desperately needed to rest and reorganize in order to prepare for its future operations; it was decided that Yiftach Brigade would replace it and take charge of the Negev region. On the 30th of August the Brigade completed its evacuation from the Negev (the healthy fighters went along the Infantry Convoy Path while the injured were flown together with the equipment in Dakota plains). The Brigade settled in Bee’r Ya'akov camp and used the time to rest, to go on vacations and to receive reinforcement from the new immigrants (the Gahal). For the first time the battalion's men went through an organized training series. Uri Baner (Ben Ari) replaced Me’irke Pilbeski as the battalion’s deputy commander; Solel Cohen and Zee’v (Tiki) Tikotinski were appointed commanders of Infantry Company A and B (respectably). The Staff Company included the scouts platoon and the Welfare Platoon.
In the course of Operation Yoav (The Ten Strikes) a combined force from the Seventh and the 82nd (the Eighth Brigade) battalions were to attack and take control of the village Iraq –El – Manshia. The attack failed and resulted in a large number of casualties as the attackers were forced to retreat. These were the battalion's hardest times. The men concentrated and camped for the night in the deserted Arab village Qastina. An anonymous man who wished to raise the men's spirits wrote (with white paint and big letters) on a wall "The Seventh Battalion will rise again" and "And after all and despite all – Palmach". For many years since, one could spot these inscriptions from the nearby road. As days went by, these inscriptions vanished, along with the village's houses.
The Negev Brigade’s 'dream' (the conquest of Bee’r Sheva) was about to become a reality; some of the goals of Operation Yoav were altered according to the situation in the battlefields. While the Seventh Battalion was preparing itself to attack Iraq- El- Manshia, a scouts company was sent to Kibbutz Kelta (Hazerim) in order to patrol and examine the area in advance. This mission was decided upon while the Israeli government was requested by the United Nations to give its consent to the cease fire. On the night between the 19th and 29th of October, Giv'ati Brigade attacked and took control of the posts in Hulik'at, thus opening the way for a convoy of the Seventh Battalion and the 82nd and 88th Battalions of the Eights Brigade, which made its way to the assembly area. The battalion's two infantry companies participated in Operation Moshe; at early dawn the Negev Brigade gained control over the city and the Egyptian commander announced his surrender.
The Seventh Battalion moved to Bee’r Sheva and settled in one of its neighborhoods. Ishkha Demi replaced Uzi Narkis which was appointed the operations officer. The Seventh Battalion received reinforcement of recruits coming from abroad and a third infantry company (Company C) was set up under the command of Yehuda (Izeb) Izebski.
The Negev Brigade was to renew the ground connection with Sodom (Operation Lot) which was sustained for six months through light airplanes. The Seventh Battalion's scouts patrolled along the rout and on the 23rd of November units form the Negev Brigade took control of Ras Zawira and Kornov police, thus renewing the ground connection with Sodom.
Operation Horev was designated to defeat the Egyptian army and to push it beyond the Israeli border. The first mission was to take over the posts of Thamila and Mushirfa which dominated the road axis of Bir Asluj – Uza El Hafir. At early dawn on the 25th of December a mission force from the Seventh and the Ninth Battalions left Bee’r Sheva and a bit after midnight managed to take control of the Mushirfa post. At midnight Company B attacked and took control of Bir Thamil post while the French Commando attacked and took control of post Yud Daled (14). After a night of Egyptian counterattacks which resulted in many casualties, the French Commando's men were forced to retreat from the post. At first dawn the Ninth Battalion attacked and took control of all the road's posts. On the following day, after the Eighth Brigade conquered Auza El Hafir (Nizzana) with the assistance of the Fifth Battalion (from Yiftach Brigade), the Negev Brigade continued to move into the Sinai Peninsula and crossed the International border (with Egypt). The Brigade's convoy encountered fire from one of the Um Katef posts but was not able to progress until a force of the Seventh Battalion came to its rescue. The reinforced Company B from the Seventh Battalion attacked and took control of the hills which dominated the road axis.
Abu Agila was taken without a fight. The Seventh Battalion participated in protecting the town. Following the decision to evacuate the Sinai Peninsula, the Seventh Battalion returned to Bee’r Sheva on the 3rd of January 1949. A short while later it was transferred to reorganize in Bet Daras camp (near Bee’r Tuvia). The plan was that the battalion would get back into military shape but at the same time the recruited training members begun to prepare themselves for the settlements. On the 2nd of March 1949 the Battalion's staff received the order to get ready to go on Operation Uvada (fact). This was a very complicated logistic operation which involved the Air Force.
The success of this operation was perpetuated by the raising of Degel Hadio (the ink flag) and with a modest ceremony on the shores of the red sea.
The battalion returned to its camp in Bet Daras, completing its role in the War of Independence. The battalion's men were released, some of them were posted in different units as commanders, and some continued to higher education.