Harel Brigade
Encyclopedia
Harel Brigade is a reserve brigade of the Israel Defense Forces
, today part of the Northern Command. It played a critical role in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war
.
, immediately after Operation Nachshon
. Composed of three battalions, 1,400 men, in the Jerusalem area that had fought in Operation Nachshon, this infantry unit was headed by Yitzhak Rabin
, who was appointed its first commander.
During the early phase of the Israeli war of independence (from November 29, 1947 to May 15, 1948), the Palmach
units became tactical combat units. In April 1948, the Harel brigade (AKA the 10th brigade) was formed to command all units in the Jerusalem corridor and hills. The Brigade's main assignments were twofold:
Upon its establishment, the brigade commenced with Operation Harel, a direct continuation of Operation Nachshon, between 16–21 April 1948. On April 22, the brigade was assigned to Operation Yevusi
with the goal of taking control of the northern ridges overlooking Jerusalem, and then taking control of the city's southern neighborhoods. During this operation the brigade sustained thirty-three killed in the battle for Nebi Samuel
and nineteen dead in the Katamon neighborhood.
In Operation Maccabi during the first half of May 1948, the Harel Brigade took control of the Jerusalem corridor and opened the road until Shaar Hagai. On 17–19 May, a Harel force took Mount Zion
and entered the Jewish Quarter
in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Later the brigade took part in Operation Danny
, Operation Horev
, and Operation HaHar.
The Palmach memorial website records 274 of its members dying whilst fighting with the Harel Brigade. Thirty four were killed at Nabi Samuel and eighteen in Katamon.
(Kadesh Operation) in 1956, the brigade fought as an infantry
brigade commanded by Shmuel Gudar. In 1959, the brigade was made into a reserve unit of the Armored Corps.
the Harel Brigade used Sherman tanks in fighting at Radar Hill, North of Jerusalem, and went on to capture Ramallah
.
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
, today part of the Northern Command. It played a critical role in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
.
War of Independence
The Harel Brigade was established on 16 April 1948 as a division of the PalmachPalmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
, immediately after Operation Nachshon
Operation Nachshon
Operation Nachshon was an Jewish military operation during the 1948 war. Lasting from 5–20 April 1948, its objective was to break the Siege of Jerusalem by opening the Tel-Aviv - Jerusalem road blockaded by Palestinian Arabs and to supply food and weapons to the isolated Jewish community of...
. Composed of three battalions, 1,400 men, in the Jerusalem area that had fought in Operation Nachshon, this infantry unit was headed by Yitzhak Rabin
Yitzhak Rabin
' was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, serving two terms in office, 1974–77 and 1992 until his assassination in 1995....
, who was appointed its first commander.
During the early phase of the Israeli war of independence (from November 29, 1947 to May 15, 1948), the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
units became tactical combat units. In April 1948, the Harel brigade (AKA the 10th brigade) was formed to command all units in the Jerusalem corridor and hills. The Brigade's main assignments were twofold:
- To fortify the area, guarding against attacks by the local Arab forces and the Arab LegionArab LegionThe Arab Legion was the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century.-Creation:...
, and gaining ground where ever possible, in order to allow passage of supply convoys to Jerusalem. - To train and organize troops in the framework of the army-in-the-making.
Upon its establishment, the brigade commenced with Operation Harel, a direct continuation of Operation Nachshon, between 16–21 April 1948. On April 22, the brigade was assigned to Operation Yevusi
Operation Yevusi
Operation Yevusi was a Palmach military operation carried out during the 1948 Arab Israeli War to assert Jewish control over Jerusalem. The operation, commanded by Yitzhak Sadeh, lasted two weeks, from 22 April 1948 to 3 May 1948. Not all objectives were achieved before the British enforced a...
with the goal of taking control of the northern ridges overlooking Jerusalem, and then taking control of the city's southern neighborhoods. During this operation the brigade sustained thirty-three killed in the battle for Nebi Samuel
Tomb of Samuel
The Tomb of Samuel, , is the traditional burial site of the biblical Hebrew prophet Samuel, atop a steep hill at an elevation of 908 meters above sea level. It is situated to the north of the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot. On the site is a building containing a mosque built in the 18th century...
and nineteen dead in the Katamon neighborhood.
In Operation Maccabi during the first half of May 1948, the Harel Brigade took control of the Jerusalem corridor and opened the road until Shaar Hagai. On 17–19 May, a Harel force took Mount Zion
Mount Zion
Mount Zion is a place name for a site in Jerusalem, the location of which has shifted several times in history. According to the Hebrew Bible's Book of Samuel, it was the site of the Jebusite fortress called the "stronghold of Zion" that was conquered by King David, becoming his palace in the City...
and entered the Jewish Quarter
Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter is one of the four traditional quarters of the Old City of Jerusalem. The 116,000 square meter area lies in the southeastern sector of the walled city, and stretches from the Zion Gate in the south, along the Armenian Quarter on the west, up to the Street of the Chain in the...
in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Later the brigade took part in Operation Danny
Operation Danny
Operation Danny was an Israeli military offensive launched at the end of the first truce of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The objectives were to capture territory east of Tel Aviv and then to push inland and relieve the Jewish population and forces in Jerusalem...
, Operation Horev
Operation Horev
At the end of Israel's War of Independence Operation Horev was a large scale attack against the Egyptian army in the Western Negev. Its objective was to trap the Egyptian Army in the Gaza Strip...
, and Operation HaHar.
The Palmach memorial website records 274 of its members dying whilst fighting with the Harel Brigade. Thirty four were killed at Nabi Samuel and eighteen in Katamon.
Suez Crisis
During the Suez CrisisSuez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
(Kadesh Operation) in 1956, the brigade fought as an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
brigade commanded by Shmuel Gudar. In 1959, the brigade was made into a reserve unit of the Armored Corps.
Six-Day War
During the Six-Day WarSix-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
the Harel Brigade used Sherman tanks in fighting at Radar Hill, North of Jerusalem, and went on to capture Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
.