יומנים > יומן - מלא 03/06/1948

Thursday, June 3, 1948

The bombing of the Egyptian column was executed on time, 21:30 last night. The target was hit. The cannon attack also went all right; our forces' attack began at 3 a.m.: Givati, IZL, and Nahum [Sarig, Negev Brigade]. On our side there were 1,200 men fighting; the Egyptian column had 2,000-3,000 men.  In the morning we were informed that Nahum had retreated to Nitzanim. The IZL was driven out by fierce fire, as was Givati. They're calling for help from the battalion under Yigal [Allon, of the Palmach's Yiftah Brigade].

       In Jenin strongholds were captured on the eastern side, but not in the west. Golani is asking for the police building (in the west) to be bombed.

       Alexandroni did not mobilize against Tulkarm, because according to him to cannons are not working; he only sent patrols for reconnaissance. Yigael's messenger (Stephen?) suggests ousting Dan [Even] and his assistant from the command. I suggested summoning Dan, and that Ya'akov [Dori] participate in the inquiry.

       Yehuda [Almog-Kopeliovitz] reports: Three injured arrived from Sdom. We have 2 dead. Amman bombed Sdom between 4 and 5 p.m. yesterday. Safia [A-Safi] still hasn't been conquered. There are 12 children, 60-70 women in Sdom. A total of 300 non-combatants. Yehuda is calling for evacuation of the children and non-combatants.

       - Shkolnik [Eshkol]: The razing of Abu Kabir [destruction of houses in the abandoned Arab neighborhood near Tel Aviv] will cost about P£ 20,000. The city is prepared to provide half. I suggested that the Jewish National Fund provide the second half.

       Milk powder is being prepared for delivery to Jerusalem. There's also a plan for the dehydration of vegetables - we need P£ 400 for the factory owner.

       - Haifa delegation regarding fortifications. They had 3,000 [laborers] working over the course of 3 days. The work was not efficient. They decided to have only 1,000 per day. They want to issue work cards for those not obligated to enlist. They wanted to have the Situation Committee issue an order. Difficulties arose. It turns out that there are currently 20,000 men aged 16-46 in Haifa. After accounting for conscripts and essential workers, only 7,000 will remain. If they take only those up to age 42, only 5,000 will remain. The command has long been insisting on calling up people from Haifa - to Afula, the Eastern Galilee, Western [Galilee], etc. It is imperative that cards be issued for the entire Yishuv. The labor brigade has 2,000 people. They'll reach 3,000. The camp will open on Saturday and process 2,000. In 10 days they'll reach 3,000. The port needs 1,800 people (of whom the British army employs 1,000), the railway 500 (including workshops), refineries 500, post office 400, and the petroleum factories - another few hundred. [Yosef] Almogi is prepared to release 200 workers for military work assignments outside of Haifa, per the command's requirements. I instructed Almogi to provide recruits for security assignments outside of Haifa, on the condition that there be no negative impact on the essential work projects in Haifa.

       - The convoy with equipment that was dispatched last night to Ma'ale HaHamisha - reached its destination safely.

       Today the enemy launched a counter-attack on occupied Muqeibla [north of Jenin]. 12 Arabs were killed on the field. We have 6 slightly injured.

       Alexandroni reports (yesterday at 18:00 [hours]) that cannons are continuing to shell our positions. Armored vehicles are in transit up to the spot where the bridge was exploded. Non-stop gunfire from the direction of Rosh Ha'Ayin towards Kefar Sirkin and Nazleh [near Petah Tikva]. The observation outpost in Kefar Sirkin reports on 2 cannons that reached Majdal Yaba [Migdal Afek; known in the past as Migdal Tsedek].

       Last night the enemy dropped bombs around Sdom from a great height. It didn't hit the camp area.

       - At eleven Moshe [Sharett] telephoned [to say] that our people in Cyprus had received a message from the person in charge of the camps, [stating] that HMG [the British government] is interpreting Security Council resolutions as a prohibition on immigration by potential recruits. Moshe telegraphed London, Lake Success [the UN], and Bernadotte.

       - Zelicki [Moshe Carmel] reports from Sandala [north of Jenin] that a column of 40 armored vehicles [an Iraqi force] came from Nablus and is putting pressure on our forces. He doubts we'll be able to take Jenin.

       The Egyptian column is also applying heavy pressure on our forces this morning, and there may be surprises from each side.

       - At 11:30 a bomb fell near my home [at the General Staff building in Ramat Gan]. Furniture was knocked over. Bursts of gunfire from outside sprayed the room.

       Later it turned out that three bombs had fallen near my house, and two more near the adjacent house. One female employee and two male employees were killed. Two of my companions were injured, one lightly and one severely.

       This is the third bombing - since Bernadotte visited me - in the vicinity of headquarters. The bombing today leaves no room for doubt that they know where we are situated. It's doubtful we'll be able to remain in this area.

       - At 4 p.m. I was visited by a delegation of foreign journalists: from The Times, AP [Associated Press], and Life magazine. They're requesting easing [of restrictions] so that they can visit the battlefields, ID cards that will enable them to move about, access to commanders, and a daily briefing by a military expert. I promised to arrange for them to meet a Staff officer, and to do the maximum possible.

       - In the late afternoon Tel Aviv had the well-deserved chance to witness what it gets for its courage and composure during these days of the Egyptian "Blitz": A fighter plane of ours brought down a British-Egyptian bomber over the skies of Tel Aviv.

       - State Council in the evening.