The Occupation of Sha'ar-hagay (Bab-El-Wad)
The only road, enabling provision convoys to reach the besieged city of Jerusalem, was blocked mainly between the Sha'ar-hagay Mountains. The objective of Operation 'Macabi' was to occupy the villages located on the ridges on both sides of the road, including the village of Bait-Mahsir, thus reopening the road leading to Jerusalem.
'Harel' Brigade ' Sha'ar-hagay' Battalion occupied the posts located north and south of the road, while resisting heavy artillery, thus reopening the road to Jerusalem. The 4th Battalion occupied Bait-Mahsir later on.
'Harel' Brigade ' Sha'ar-hagay' Battalion occupied the posts located north and south of the road, while resisting heavy artillery, thus reopening the road to Jerusalem. The 4th Battalion occupied Bait-Mahsir later on.
The road leading to Jerusalem was blocked once again:
At the beginning of May, 1948, Arab armies were expected to invade Israel. After a convoy escorted by the 5th Battalion was attacked in Bab-El-Wad, the road leading from the lowland to Jerusalem was blocked for 2 weeks. The city was cut off once more after the convoy reached its destination. More then 200 trucks were unable to return to the lowland and participate in further 'Haganah' convoys.
The narrow road winding between the Sha'ar-hagay Mountains was a most difficult passage and was exposed to attacks from the mountains on both sides of the road, road blocks and ambushes. The road was located in the midst of several Arab villages, including Bait-Mahsir numbering 5000 inhabitants.
The occupation plan:
David Ben- Gurion and military command gave top priority to the reopening of the Sha'ar-hagay , by the occupation of the Sha'ar-hagay posts and the near by Arab villages- Operation 'Macabi' was carried out by the 'Harel' Brigade under the command of Yitzhak Rabin.
Phase 1: 'Givati' Brigade was to capture the army posts between Hulda and Dir-Muchsin.
Phase 2: 'Sha'ar-hagay' Battalion was to occupy the army posts north of the road and the 4th Battalion was to occupy the southern posts, the "Masrek" (the comb) post and Bait-Mahsir.
Phase 3: the 4th Battalion was to replace the 5th Battalion in order to occupy Dir-Jobe and Yalo; 'Givati' Brigade 51st Battalion was to reopen the section between Latrun and Sha'ar Hagay for the passage of convoys (after the occupation of Latrun).
The occupation of the north-east army posts
On the night of the 7th of May, 5th Battalion units marched on their way to occupy the northern army posts. They occupied posts no. 2-6 and entrenched amongst the bushes and the rocks while waiting for the enemy's counterattacks. The enemy opened fire from Bait-Nuba and Yalo, the following morning. The artillery Commanders and observers were British, aided by a British aircraft.
The 'Harel' Brigade fighters were exposed to direct artillery fire for the first time and fighting conditions were difficult: blazing sun light during the day and a freezing wind during the night; munitions food and water were available in combat rations; provisions were transported by the fighters themselves, and against all odds, the defenders managed to fend of the enemy.
The occupation of the southern posts dominating Bait-Mahsir
The 4th Battalion encountered a heavy fog on its way to occupy the village; instead they occupied a post by the "Masrek" mountain near the village the following morning. Meanwhile, the enemy Company occupied post no.16 and requested reinforcements that started arriving from Jerusalem, Hebron and the entire area. The forces joined 300 Kawkagi 'Rescue Army' fighters under the command of lieutenant colonel, Muhamad Mahadi and 200 Bedouin and Jordanian volunteers.
High command ordered Yitzhak Rabin to continue occupation of the area. According to the change in plan, the 5th Battalion would occupy the 2 large mountainous posts (no.16 and 21) south of the road, between the road and the village. On the evening of the 9th of May, a 5th Battalion Company left Nave Elan in order to mislead enemy observations, descended to the Wadi in broad day light and turned west concealed from the Arab occupiers of the 'Masrek' and post no.16. The Company crossed the road by the lower water pumps, climbed the mountain undetected and occupied the mountaintops located 600-800 m from the village from behind, before the break of dawn.
Another Company occupied post no.21 and 2 other companies, including Battalion Company Commander and deputy Battalion Commander, occupied post no.16 after a short battle, surprising the Arabs who expected them to attack the village rather then the surrounding posts. At the break of day, The Arabs decided to reoccupy the posts after discovering that the Jewish forces occupied the posts located on the edge of the village, hundreds of Arabs attacked the posts under cover of weapons fired from the village, managing to reach the posts due to the bumpy slops and fight our forces hand-to-hand. They managed to reach the no.21 post during the attack, only to be driven away while suffering heavy losses. The fighting continued the following night, killing 6 of our fighters and wounding many others.
Reinforcements climbed the mountains carrying munitions cases, water tanks and descended down hill carrying the wounded fighters. As a result of the diminishing numbers of able fighters, army policemen, regimental policemen and Gadna (Haganah youth Battalions) youth arrived from Jerusalem in order to join the fighting.
On the night of the 10th of May, the 4th Battalion reached the "Masrek" post, covered by the posts occupied by the 5th Battalion. The units penetrated the village, the inhabitants ran away and the buildings were demolished.
The occupation of the northern posts
On the morning of the 5th of November, a 5th Battalion Company occupied the north-west posts (no. 7 and 8), using two 52 mm mortars with 8 shells. During the Battle of Bait Mahasir, Arab legion artillery units, armored vehicles from Ramala and local volunteers attempted to reoccupy the army posts north of the road leading from Jerusalem to Tel-Aviv. The Arab infantry was covered by artillery fired form the "Cannon Ridge" above Yalo, striking the exposed Palmach fighters. The physical conditions on the mountaintops were hard, and the forces hardly received munitions and water, but managed to fend the enemy off, never the less.
On the 12th of May, the entire road section between Sha'ar-hagay and Jerusalem was reopened. The enemy continued attacking, forcing a squad to evacuate the no.8 post due to lack of munitions and water supplies. The Arabs bombarded post no.7, blocking the western entrance to Sha'ar-hagay with ceaseless cannon fire. In spite of fatigue, hunger, thirst and the rocky terrain, our forces counterattacked and resisted enemy attacks. Gadna youth joined the fighting as a result of the diminishing numbers of able fighters and the rising numbers of wounded.
On the following day (13.5) a unit reoccupied posts no.8, 9 and 10 and our forces occupied the all posts on both sides of the Sha'ar-hagay road. Arab attacks diminished and Kaug'gi's army left the area. (Kaug'gi reported to Damascus H.Q. that he had fired 1100 75 mm shells, 1100 105 mm shells and 500 40 mm shells, from the armored vehicles)
The domination of the road leading from Sha'ar-hagay to Jerusalem
The occupation of Bait-Mahsir and the reopening of the road leading to Jerusalem was greatly influenced by the resistance of the occupiers of the no.16 and 21 posts and the northern posts against the Arab forces.
Our forces, occupying the road leading from Sha'ar-hagay to Jerusalem since the 12th of May, discovered that the Arab forces had evacuated Bait-Nuba, Yalo and the Latrun ridges.
5th Battalion units occupied the posts on both sides of the road until the declaration of the establishment of the state of Israel on the 15th of May. They were replaced by 'Givati' Brigade fighters, so they could join the battle against the Jordanian legion invasion. The battle of Sha'ar-hagay was long and hard as described by Yitzhak Rabin:" The 'Sha'ar-hagay' Battalion was forced to hold the posts for 6 days, under heavy fire and difficult conditions- the most strenuous battle any of the 'Harel' Brigade units had ever encountered a defense offence battle under difficult circumstances. Domination of the road leading from 'Sha'ar-hagay to Jerusalem was made possible thanks to the Battalion's maintenance of the chain of army posts along the section".
At the beginning of May, 1948, Arab armies were expected to invade Israel. After a convoy escorted by the 5th Battalion was attacked in Bab-El-Wad, the road leading from the lowland to Jerusalem was blocked for 2 weeks. The city was cut off once more after the convoy reached its destination. More then 200 trucks were unable to return to the lowland and participate in further 'Haganah' convoys.
The narrow road winding between the Sha'ar-hagay Mountains was a most difficult passage and was exposed to attacks from the mountains on both sides of the road, road blocks and ambushes. The road was located in the midst of several Arab villages, including Bait-Mahsir numbering 5000 inhabitants.
The occupation plan:
David Ben- Gurion and military command gave top priority to the reopening of the Sha'ar-hagay , by the occupation of the Sha'ar-hagay posts and the near by Arab villages- Operation 'Macabi' was carried out by the 'Harel' Brigade under the command of Yitzhak Rabin.
Phase 1: 'Givati' Brigade was to capture the army posts between Hulda and Dir-Muchsin.
Phase 2: 'Sha'ar-hagay' Battalion was to occupy the army posts north of the road and the 4th Battalion was to occupy the southern posts, the "Masrek" (the comb) post and Bait-Mahsir.
Phase 3: the 4th Battalion was to replace the 5th Battalion in order to occupy Dir-Jobe and Yalo; 'Givati' Brigade 51st Battalion was to reopen the section between Latrun and Sha'ar Hagay for the passage of convoys (after the occupation of Latrun).
The occupation of the north-east army posts
On the night of the 7th of May, 5th Battalion units marched on their way to occupy the northern army posts. They occupied posts no. 2-6 and entrenched amongst the bushes and the rocks while waiting for the enemy's counterattacks. The enemy opened fire from Bait-Nuba and Yalo, the following morning. The artillery Commanders and observers were British, aided by a British aircraft.
The 'Harel' Brigade fighters were exposed to direct artillery fire for the first time and fighting conditions were difficult: blazing sun light during the day and a freezing wind during the night; munitions food and water were available in combat rations; provisions were transported by the fighters themselves, and against all odds, the defenders managed to fend of the enemy.
The occupation of the southern posts dominating Bait-Mahsir
The 4th Battalion encountered a heavy fog on its way to occupy the village; instead they occupied a post by the "Masrek" mountain near the village the following morning. Meanwhile, the enemy Company occupied post no.16 and requested reinforcements that started arriving from Jerusalem, Hebron and the entire area. The forces joined 300 Kawkagi 'Rescue Army' fighters under the command of lieutenant colonel, Muhamad Mahadi and 200 Bedouin and Jordanian volunteers.
High command ordered Yitzhak Rabin to continue occupation of the area. According to the change in plan, the 5th Battalion would occupy the 2 large mountainous posts (no.16 and 21) south of the road, between the road and the village. On the evening of the 9th of May, a 5th Battalion Company left Nave Elan in order to mislead enemy observations, descended to the Wadi in broad day light and turned west concealed from the Arab occupiers of the 'Masrek' and post no.16. The Company crossed the road by the lower water pumps, climbed the mountain undetected and occupied the mountaintops located 600-800 m from the village from behind, before the break of dawn.
Another Company occupied post no.21 and 2 other companies, including Battalion Company Commander and deputy Battalion Commander, occupied post no.16 after a short battle, surprising the Arabs who expected them to attack the village rather then the surrounding posts. At the break of day, The Arabs decided to reoccupy the posts after discovering that the Jewish forces occupied the posts located on the edge of the village, hundreds of Arabs attacked the posts under cover of weapons fired from the village, managing to reach the posts due to the bumpy slops and fight our forces hand-to-hand. They managed to reach the no.21 post during the attack, only to be driven away while suffering heavy losses. The fighting continued the following night, killing 6 of our fighters and wounding many others.
Reinforcements climbed the mountains carrying munitions cases, water tanks and descended down hill carrying the wounded fighters. As a result of the diminishing numbers of able fighters, army policemen, regimental policemen and Gadna (Haganah youth Battalions) youth arrived from Jerusalem in order to join the fighting.
On the night of the 10th of May, the 4th Battalion reached the "Masrek" post, covered by the posts occupied by the 5th Battalion. The units penetrated the village, the inhabitants ran away and the buildings were demolished.
The occupation of the northern posts
On the morning of the 5th of November, a 5th Battalion Company occupied the north-west posts (no. 7 and 8), using two 52 mm mortars with 8 shells. During the Battle of Bait Mahasir, Arab legion artillery units, armored vehicles from Ramala and local volunteers attempted to reoccupy the army posts north of the road leading from Jerusalem to Tel-Aviv. The Arab infantry was covered by artillery fired form the "Cannon Ridge" above Yalo, striking the exposed Palmach fighters. The physical conditions on the mountaintops were hard, and the forces hardly received munitions and water, but managed to fend the enemy off, never the less.
On the 12th of May, the entire road section between Sha'ar-hagay and Jerusalem was reopened. The enemy continued attacking, forcing a squad to evacuate the no.8 post due to lack of munitions and water supplies. The Arabs bombarded post no.7, blocking the western entrance to Sha'ar-hagay with ceaseless cannon fire. In spite of fatigue, hunger, thirst and the rocky terrain, our forces counterattacked and resisted enemy attacks. Gadna youth joined the fighting as a result of the diminishing numbers of able fighters and the rising numbers of wounded.
On the following day (13.5) a unit reoccupied posts no.8, 9 and 10 and our forces occupied the all posts on both sides of the Sha'ar-hagay road. Arab attacks diminished and Kaug'gi's army left the area. (Kaug'gi reported to Damascus H.Q. that he had fired 1100 75 mm shells, 1100 105 mm shells and 500 40 mm shells, from the armored vehicles)
The domination of the road leading from Sha'ar-hagay to Jerusalem
The occupation of Bait-Mahsir and the reopening of the road leading to Jerusalem was greatly influenced by the resistance of the occupiers of the no.16 and 21 posts and the northern posts against the Arab forces.
Our forces, occupying the road leading from Sha'ar-hagay to Jerusalem since the 12th of May, discovered that the Arab forces had evacuated Bait-Nuba, Yalo and the Latrun ridges.
5th Battalion units occupied the posts on both sides of the road until the declaration of the establishment of the state of Israel on the 15th of May. They were replaced by 'Givati' Brigade fighters, so they could join the battle against the Jordanian legion invasion. The battle of Sha'ar-hagay was long and hard as described by Yitzhak Rabin:" The 'Sha'ar-hagay' Battalion was forced to hold the posts for 6 days, under heavy fire and difficult conditions- the most strenuous battle any of the 'Harel' Brigade units had ever encountered a defense offence battle under difficult circumstances. Domination of the road leading from 'Sha'ar-hagay to Jerusalem was made possible thanks to the Battalion's maintenance of the chain of army posts along the section".