Jan 1948- June 1949
Explanation:
4 Jan 1948
Katamon, Jerusalem (Hotel Semiramis Bombing)
A Haganah demolitions team (four sappers supported by 10 riflemen) demolished the Semiramis Hotel in Katamon (Collins & Lapierre, 1972). The Haganah mistakenly believed it was a headquarters for the Arabs in the quarter. 26 people died including a Spanish diplomat.
7 Jan 1948
Old City, Jerusalem (Jaffa Gate bombing)
The Irgun rolled a bomb into the Arab crowd at the Jaffa Gate Stop of the No. 3 Bus (Collins & Lapierre, 1972). There were 17 dead. The four Irgunist were in an armoured car stolen from the British. Shortly after the bombing they crashed their car, and three were killed trying to escape. The remaining Irgunist was wounded and captured, although he was later busted out by his peers.
9 Jan 1948
Dan and Kfar Szold
200 Arab volunteers – from the 1st ‘Yarmuk’ battalion of the Arab Liberation Army (ALA) – crossed the Syria-Palestine border to attack the Jewish settlements of Dan and Kfar Szold in the upper Galilee (Herzog, 1982; Kurzman, 1970). The British sent a troop of armoured cars to support each kibbutz, and in a short but intense fight the Arabs were driven off.
Jordan
The same day the first foreign Arab troops crossed the Jordan River over the Allenby Bridge from Jordan to Palestine (Kurzman, 1970). The British let them through.
11 Jan 1948
Deir Yassin, Jerusalem Sector
On the night of 11 Jan an Arab gang tried to set up a base in the village mill (Levi, 1986). The people of Deir Yassin violently opposed them and the son of the miller was killed. The inhabitants called the police and the gang abandoned their efforts.
12 Jan 1948
Britain confirmed its alliances, and associated promises of military aid, with Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan (Kurzman, 1970). Subsequently Iraqis rioted in Baghdad against this alliance, and the Anglo-Iraqi agreement was cancelled.
14 Jan 1948
Etzion Bloc, Jerusalem Sector
In Jan 1948 the 1,000 Arab irregulars under Abdel Kader el-Husseini (so possibly some were from the mufti’s Army of Salvation)attempted to crush the Jewish Etzion Bloc (Herzog, 1982; Kurzman, 1970). The defenders were the settlers themselves (280 men and women) and a reserve company of the Palmach. The Arab main force (300 men) attacked Kfar Etzion – the largest of the four villages – whilst diversionary attacks were made on Massuot Yitzhak and Ein Zurim. The main attack was stopped in its tracks by close range fire from the settlers. Meanwhile the diversionary attack force heading for Ein Zurim walked into an ambush prepared by the Palmach company and suffered heavy casualties. The Arab force subsequently withdrew. They left 150 dead, although the Jews only had 30 uninjured by the end the battle.
15-16 Jan 1948: The Thirty-Five
35 Jewish reinforcements for the Eztion Bloc were discovered as they tried to walk to the settlement (Kurzman, 1970). All died when thousands of local villagers swarmed to stop them.
15 Jan 1948
Etzion Bloc, Jerusalem Sector (“The Thirty-Five”)
On the evening of 15 Jan 40 heavily loaded Jewish reinforcements, under Dani Mass, set off from Jerusalem on their way to the Etzion Bloc (Kurzman, 1970). They arrived at Hartuv at 2130 hours, and then pushed on despite advice to postpone their journey until the next day. Two unarmed men were left behind, and short afterwards a third sprained his ankle and was sent back in the company of two others. The remaining 35 hurried on.
16 Jan 1948
Etzion Bloc, Jerusalem Sector (“The Thirty-Five”)
At dawn on 16 Jan, the 35 were spotted near the Arab village of Surif about 8 km west of the Hebron-Jerusalem road (Kurzman, 1970). Quickly surrounded by thousands of Arab irregulars under Ibrahim Abu Daya, the 35 took what cover they could near a cave. By 1500 hours the Arabs could see only eight Jews continuing the fight. At sundown the three remaining defenders killed themselves with a grenade. There were no survivors.
21 Jan 1948
20 Syrian trucks carrying 700 men of the ALA under Safr Bek crossed the border into Palestine (Kurzman, 1970).
25 Jan 1948
Fawzi el-Kaukjii – commander of the ALA – crossed into Palestine in disguise (Kurzman, 1970).
27 Jan 1948
Deir Yassin, Jerusalem Sector
On 27 Jan a force belonging to Abdel Khader tried to enter the village (Levi, 1986). Again the village people resisted the outsiders with force and the gang left in the direction of Beth Jallah.
Late Jan or Feb 1948
Bir Addas, Central Sector
Second truce to Armistice (20 Jul 1949)
24 Feb 1949
Armistice between Israel and Egypt.
23 Mar 1949
Armistice between Israel and Lebanon
3 Apr 1949
Armistice between Israel and Jordan
20 Jun 1949
Armistice between Israel and Syria
