17 lugl 1948 anni - Operation Kedem

Descrizione:

Operation Kedem was a military endeavor executed by Irgun and Lehi forces in July 1948, with the objective of capturing East Jerusalem, including the Old City, during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. This operation was set against a backdrop where the Jews had gained considerable strength in the Jerusalem sector following the first ceasefire of the war.

The plan originally set for July 8 involved coordination with the Haganah and began with the task of capturing the Arab village of Malha. However, this was delayed by David Shaltiel, the Haganah commander in Jerusalem, who adjusted the strategy. On July 14, Irgun forces, after a fierce early morning battle, initially seized Malha but faced a strong counterattack from Arab forces, which resulted in the village changing hands again. The clash led to significant losses for the Irgun, including 17 killed and many wounded.

The comprehensive attack plan for Operation Kedem was scheduled to begin on the evening of July 16, right before the onset of the second ceasefire. The strategy was to make simultaneous assaults at several points: Irgun forces were to break through at the New Gate, Lehi aimed to penetrate the wall between the New Gate and Jaffa Gate, and the Beit Horon Battalion was set to advance from Mount Zion.

However, the operation was fraught with difficulties from the start. Initially postponed to 23:00, and then to midnight, the operation did not commence until 02:30. Although the Irgun managed a breakthrough at the New Gate, the other groups failed to achieve their objectives. By 05:45, with the operation faltering, Shaltiel ordered a retreat and cessation of hostilities, marking the operation as a failure in its primary goal of capturing the Old City of Jerusalem.

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