The Battle for Zar'in
The Arab village of Zar'in, located on Tel Jezreel dominated the road from Afula to Beisan., and members of gangs that operated from it harassed transport traveling on the road. It was therefore decided to attack the village in order to occupy it and remove the threat. The Arab force that resided in the village was estimated at 100 armed fighters.
The Arab village of Zar'in, located on Tel Jezreel dominated the road from Afula to Beisan., and members of gangs that operated from it harassed transport traveling on the road. It was decided to attack the village in order to occupy it and remove the threat. The force that resided in the village was estimated at 100 armed fighters.
On 19.4.48 a large militia comprising 1st Battalion Palmach personnel, in cooperation with reinforcements from the Golani and Alexandroni Brigades. was given orders at Merhavia by
battalion commander Dan Lenner:
- Assaf Simchoni's company would attack from the east
- Alex Bania's company – from the south.
- In an unexpected move, the D Company, commanded by Shaike Gavish, would launch an assault from the south, on the Jenin axis.
- The force left Merhavia after dark on its assignment, but the attack on the village encountered fierce resistance. Gavish' company flanked the village from the west, and organized itself in a wheat field south of Zar'in. Shaike positioned Eitan's and Rehavam Ze'evi's ('Ghandi's) divisions at the front, for an assault, and kept a third division with him a few dozen meters behind. One of the groups, 'Maoz', comprising trainees, split up the task into three: One group would break down the door of the house , the second would light up the interior of the building. and the third would shoot any males.
- Another unit, a platoon commanded by Pinhas, "Siko" Zussmann, armed with a mid-weight machine gun, intended to cover the break-in. Additional field core combat units were ready for deployment in as a holding and covering force. Weakening activities with 81mm mortars and Davidkot were also planned
- Following ineffective shelling with the mortars, the machine-gunners began firing volleys at the houses. As they approached the village, there was a strong burst of shooting at them, forcing the fighters to lie down without being able to raise their heads. A group of about 20 Arabs tried to flee from the village, but when it ran into the fire of D Company, exchanges of fire broke out between both sides. Both forces reported battles and wounded, but no progress was made in accessing the village. One of the forces, a platoon commanded by Yanon Ezroni, occupied a school building, took refuge in it and fired from within. A force intended to invade the village from another direction encountered stiff resistance, while some of its weapons did not work.
The village residents returned strong and efficient fire, preventing the attackers from advancing. An Arab force suddenly broke out of the village and started a counter-attack, while screaming ferociously. A face-to-face battle ensued, while the number of casualties increased.
On 19.4.48 a large militia comprising 1st Battalion Palmach personnel, in cooperation with reinforcements from the Golani and Alexandroni Brigades. was given orders at Merhavia by
battalion commander Dan Lenner:
- Assaf Simchoni's company would attack from the east
- Alex Bania's company – from the south.
- In an unexpected move, the D Company, commanded by Shaike Gavish, would launch an assault from the south, on the Jenin axis.
- The force left Merhavia after dark on its assignment, but the attack on the village encountered fierce resistance. Gavish' company flanked the village from the west, and organized itself in a wheat field south of Zar'in. Shaike positioned Eitan's and Rehavam Ze'evi's ('Ghandi's) divisions at the front, for an assault, and kept a third division with him a few dozen meters behind. One of the groups, 'Maoz', comprising trainees, split up the task into three: One group would break down the door of the house , the second would light up the interior of the building. and the third would shoot any males.
- Another unit, a platoon commanded by Pinhas, "Siko" Zussmann, armed with a mid-weight machine gun, intended to cover the break-in. Additional field core combat units were ready for deployment in as a holding and covering force. Weakening activities with 81mm mortars and Davidkot were also planned
- Following ineffective shelling with the mortars, the machine-gunners began firing volleys at the houses. As they approached the village, there was a strong burst of shooting at them, forcing the fighters to lie down without being able to raise their heads. A group of about 20 Arabs tried to flee from the village, but when it ran into the fire of D Company, exchanges of fire broke out between both sides. Both forces reported battles and wounded, but no progress was made in accessing the village. One of the forces, a platoon commanded by Yanon Ezroni, occupied a school building, took refuge in it and fired from within. A force intended to invade the village from another direction encountered stiff resistance, while some of its weapons did not work.
The village residents returned strong and efficient fire, preventing the attackers from advancing. An Arab force suddenly broke out of the village and started a counter-attack, while screaming ferociously. A face-to-face battle ensued, while the number of casualties increased.