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forces and the civil population. As a result of a string of successes achieved over the forty
days since the beginning of April, the spirit of the public (outside of Jerusalem) was strong
and confident – perhaps even over-confident.
Shortly after midnight came the exciting news from Washington that the US had
recognized the new state. This was something of a consolation and compensation for the
depressing news of the fall of Kfar Etzion and the surrounding kibbuzim after a three-day
battle against the Arab Legion. Yadin drew attention to the ramifications of that invasion:
it was necessary to plan more effective defense of the settlements against cannon attack.
The discussions continued without any decisions being made. Dawn broke, but the Arabs'
response was still unknown. Ben-Gurion readied himself for a special broadcast to the
United States. In Tel Aviv, the time was 5am.
Three Spitfires with the markings of the Royal Egyptian Air Force appeared from the
direction of the sea in the clear morning sky, but Israel's anti-aircraft defense system,
which was almost non-existent, failed to detect them. The planes made their way to a clear
target: the Reading power station on the coast, behind which stretched Tel Aviv's sandy
airport. At a height of only 300 meters the Egyptians dropped their bombs, which were
not particularly fearsome - they caused some damage to the runway and to a few planes
– and then headed back towards the sea. However, one of the Spitfires was hit by the sole
machine-gun that had been placed on the roof of the power station as defense against
aircraft. The pilot was taken captive not far from Tel Aviv.
That was the signal that the company in the Red House had been waiting for. But before
the smoke above the airport could dissipate, more news arrived. In the Negev, Kfar Darom
and Nir-Am had been attacked from the air. Some settlements on the Trans-Jordanian
and Syrian borders had been shelled. It was still difficult to discern any sort of plan behind
these attacks, or to carry out any decisive ordering of the troops. However, the slight doubt
that had lurked in the hearts of the top Hagana command had been laid to rest.
The assault had begun.
John and David Kimche, MiShenei Evrei HaGiv'a, Ma'arakhot publishers, 1973, pp. 149-151.
170 The Friday That Changed Destiny
days since the beginning of April, the spirit of the public (outside of Jerusalem) was strong
and confident – perhaps even over-confident.
Shortly after midnight came the exciting news from Washington that the US had
recognized the new state. This was something of a consolation and compensation for the
depressing news of the fall of Kfar Etzion and the surrounding kibbuzim after a three-day
battle against the Arab Legion. Yadin drew attention to the ramifications of that invasion:
it was necessary to plan more effective defense of the settlements against cannon attack.
The discussions continued without any decisions being made. Dawn broke, but the Arabs'
response was still unknown. Ben-Gurion readied himself for a special broadcast to the
United States. In Tel Aviv, the time was 5am.
Three Spitfires with the markings of the Royal Egyptian Air Force appeared from the
direction of the sea in the clear morning sky, but Israel's anti-aircraft defense system,
which was almost non-existent, failed to detect them. The planes made their way to a clear
target: the Reading power station on the coast, behind which stretched Tel Aviv's sandy
airport. At a height of only 300 meters the Egyptians dropped their bombs, which were
not particularly fearsome - they caused some damage to the runway and to a few planes
– and then headed back towards the sea. However, one of the Spitfires was hit by the sole
machine-gun that had been placed on the roof of the power station as defense against
aircraft. The pilot was taken captive not far from Tel Aviv.
That was the signal that the company in the Red House had been waiting for. But before
the smoke above the airport could dissipate, more news arrived. In the Negev, Kfar Darom
and Nir-Am had been attacked from the air. Some settlements on the Trans-Jordanian
and Syrian borders had been shelled. It was still difficult to discern any sort of plan behind
these attacks, or to carry out any decisive ordering of the troops. However, the slight doubt
that had lurked in the hearts of the top Hagana command had been laid to rest.
The assault had begun.
John and David Kimche, MiShenei Evrei HaGiv'a, Ma'arakhot publishers, 1973, pp. 149-151.
170 The Friday That Changed Destiny
