The Conquest of Shuafat
The 5th Battalion that had conquered Shuafat, was ordered to leave the village in the wake of the corresponding failed attacks of the 4th Battalion on the nearby villages of Nebi Samuel and Bet Iksa.
The Harel Brigade - The Fifth Battalion - 1
Harel Brigade - The Fifth Battalion - 2
Harel Brigade - The Fifth Battalion - 4
Harel Brigade - The Fifth Battalion - 3
On the 20th of April 1948, the 5th Battalion traveled up to Jerusalem within the framework of the 'Yabusi' operation, with the intention of prevailing over the Arab neighborhoods of the 'Old City' that were closing in on the Jewish Quarter.
The first operations were planned for the northern sector of the city. On the night of the 22/23 of April, the 4th Battalion was to conquer Nebi Samuel and Bet Iksa and, concurrently, the 5th Battalion was to conquer the villages of Shuafat (from where Jerusalem was being fired on) and Bet Hanina, where the forces of both brigades would meet. The plan was that the field forces of the Jerusalem 'Etzioni' Brigade were to man and hold the conquered villages.
A company from the 5th Brigade set out at midnight, in a heavy fog. They went down into the Lifta valley and then climbed on rocky slopes in the direction of the village. The force burst into the village with heavy fire, attacked the armed Arab force stationed there and conquered the entire village. The company suffered several casualties. A demolitions squad began to blow up the houses after checking to see that there were no people inside.
In the middle of the operation, a surprising order for retreat came from the 'Harel' Brigade headquarters, before the operation was accomplished, without any explanation. In the wake of the failed attacks on the nearby villages of Nebi Samuel and Bet Iksa, it seems that they were fearful of leaving the 5th Battalion isolated in the northern sector.
Despite his difference of opinion, the company commander, Yashka Shadmi, ordered a retreat in the early hours of the morning through the town, with the companies covering each other. The commander was also angry about the negative effect that the seemingly unjustified retreat would have on the fighting spirit of the battalion fighters.
Already, on the following day, units of the 5th Battalion attacked the Arab neighborhood of Sheik Jarrah.
The first operations were planned for the northern sector of the city. On the night of the 22/23 of April, the 4th Battalion was to conquer Nebi Samuel and Bet Iksa and, concurrently, the 5th Battalion was to conquer the villages of Shuafat (from where Jerusalem was being fired on) and Bet Hanina, where the forces of both brigades would meet. The plan was that the field forces of the Jerusalem 'Etzioni' Brigade were to man and hold the conquered villages.
A company from the 5th Brigade set out at midnight, in a heavy fog. They went down into the Lifta valley and then climbed on rocky slopes in the direction of the village. The force burst into the village with heavy fire, attacked the armed Arab force stationed there and conquered the entire village. The company suffered several casualties. A demolitions squad began to blow up the houses after checking to see that there were no people inside.
In the middle of the operation, a surprising order for retreat came from the 'Harel' Brigade headquarters, before the operation was accomplished, without any explanation. In the wake of the failed attacks on the nearby villages of Nebi Samuel and Bet Iksa, it seems that they were fearful of leaving the 5th Battalion isolated in the northern sector.
Despite his difference of opinion, the company commander, Yashka Shadmi, ordered a retreat in the early hours of the morning through the town, with the companies covering each other. The commander was also angry about the negative effect that the seemingly unjustified retreat would have on the fighting spirit of the battalion fighters.
Already, on the following day, units of the 5th Battalion attacked the Arab neighborhood of Sheik Jarrah.