Battle of Mishmar HaEmek

Battle of Mishmar HaEmek
Part of the 1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine

Jewish soldiers at the entry of the Mishmar Ha'emek, 1948
Date4–15 April 1948
Location
Mishmar HaEmek, Mandatory Palestine
32°36′35″N 35°8′30″E / 32.60972°N 35.14167°E / 32.60972; 35.14167
Result

Yishuv victory

  • Arab villages in the area occupied
Belligerents
Israel Haganah Arab Liberation Army
Commanders and leaders
Israel Yitzhak Sadeh Fawzi al-Qawuqji
Strength
Israel ~470 militiamen 1,000 militiamen
Battle of Mishmar HaEmek is located in Mandatory Palestine
Battle of Mishmar HaEmek
Battle of Mishmar HaEmek
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Location within Mandatory Palestine

The Battle of Mishmar HaEmek was a ten-day battle fought from 4 to 15 April 1948 between the Arab Liberation Army (Yarmouk Battalion) commanded by Fawzi al-Qawuqji and the Haganah (Palmach and HISH) commanded by Yitzhak Sadeh and Dan Laner.[1] The battle began when al-Qawuqji launched an attack against Mishmar HaEmek with the intent of taking the kibbutz, which was strategically placed beside the main road between Jenin and Haifa.[2] In 1947 it had a population of 550.[3]

  1. ^ Kimche (1960B), p. 101–103
  2. ^ Morris, (1984). p.115. "The battle began on 4 April when the ALA shelled and attempted to take Mishmar Ha'emek...which the Haganah commanders regarded as one of the main likely routes for a major Arab attack on the Yishuv on or after 15 May."
  3. ^ Jewish National Fund (1949). Jewish Villages in Israel. Jerusalem: Hamadpis Liphshitz Press.