Page 20 - big friday
P. 20
to go to Beit haArava but the motor broke down and it turned back halfway. A Rapide
was sent. There are 200 armed fighters in Atarot. Tonight they'll be pulling out and will
redeploy at Neve Yaakov, where 120 armed men are positioned.
We have a Dakota, a Rapide and a C-46 for bombing.
Y itzhak [Sadeh, reports that] they heard this morning at 8:15 on Arab radio that the
Ein Tzur [Ein Tzurim] and Massu'ot [Yitzhak] people have retreated.
I commented that we have to take two fundamental decisions: greater authority for
regional commanders – on condition that communications improve and we can know
quickly and precisely what is going on throughout the country, so we can issue appropriate
instructions. Secondly - the main thing is [delivering] a blow to the enemy forces, rather
than defending positions, and to explain this to all the commanders, because our forces
need to be concentrated.
Y igael [Yadin] demands that an order be issued to evacuate Atarot and Har Tuv
immediately. Everyone agreed to that.
E liyahu [Ben Hur] demands that the public be informed of the danger of an invasion,
so as to allow for digging trenches and building barricades. I drafted a notice to the public
on behalf of the General Staff.
Y osef [Avidar]: The heavy machines that have arrived will work as anti-aircraft weapons.
An order was given to the commanders that Level 4 [alert] commences at 4pm.
It was decided that there will be new instructions concerning barricades, and caution
with regard to aircrafts and tanks.
E liyahu: An armored batallion and a 6'' mortar (there's only one). There are 350
[men for the] armored [batallion]. There's nothing to train them with. The manpower
directorate, operations directorate, logistics directorate, and training directorate are
needed – to organize this.
Lehrer [Tzadok]: 3,000 recruits will be inducted in the near future – former soldiers
[of the British army]. 1,000 will be sent to Shlomo [Shamir – the new "Sheva" Brigade].
1,000 to Eliyahu for courses, and 1,000 to intake (as reserve). In total there are about 5,000
ex-soldiers who have not yet been enlisted. Brigade commanders must be limited in their
intake of kibbutz members. It has been agreed that the manpower directorate recruiters
will assign the people needed to the supreme command. He demands that the soldiers
from Haifa not be sent to work, but be mobilized. I added an amendment: except for key
people at work. Yisrael [Galili] proposes that we invite someone from Haifa. I invited
Karlenboim [Yosef Almogi] by phone.
Y itzhak [Sadeh]: About reserve [countrywide armored forces] and the Negev. We can
produce 24 armored vehicles every two weeks. That's enough for a batallion (450 men).
(Yosef [Avidar] disagrees: they won't make that many.) There is already one batallion
with 11 armored vehicles (and there are another 10 police cars – where are they?) (Yigael
[Yadin] proposes that [Yohanan] Ratner be charged with deciding about the armored
vehicles.) Tomorrow morning we'll discuss the Negev. There are about 70 jeeps. We need
18 The Friday That Changed Destiny
was sent. There are 200 armed fighters in Atarot. Tonight they'll be pulling out and will
redeploy at Neve Yaakov, where 120 armed men are positioned.
We have a Dakota, a Rapide and a C-46 for bombing.
Y itzhak [Sadeh, reports that] they heard this morning at 8:15 on Arab radio that the
Ein Tzur [Ein Tzurim] and Massu'ot [Yitzhak] people have retreated.
I commented that we have to take two fundamental decisions: greater authority for
regional commanders – on condition that communications improve and we can know
quickly and precisely what is going on throughout the country, so we can issue appropriate
instructions. Secondly - the main thing is [delivering] a blow to the enemy forces, rather
than defending positions, and to explain this to all the commanders, because our forces
need to be concentrated.
Y igael [Yadin] demands that an order be issued to evacuate Atarot and Har Tuv
immediately. Everyone agreed to that.
E liyahu [Ben Hur] demands that the public be informed of the danger of an invasion,
so as to allow for digging trenches and building barricades. I drafted a notice to the public
on behalf of the General Staff.
Y osef [Avidar]: The heavy machines that have arrived will work as anti-aircraft weapons.
An order was given to the commanders that Level 4 [alert] commences at 4pm.
It was decided that there will be new instructions concerning barricades, and caution
with regard to aircrafts and tanks.
E liyahu: An armored batallion and a 6'' mortar (there's only one). There are 350
[men for the] armored [batallion]. There's nothing to train them with. The manpower
directorate, operations directorate, logistics directorate, and training directorate are
needed – to organize this.
Lehrer [Tzadok]: 3,000 recruits will be inducted in the near future – former soldiers
[of the British army]. 1,000 will be sent to Shlomo [Shamir – the new "Sheva" Brigade].
1,000 to Eliyahu for courses, and 1,000 to intake (as reserve). In total there are about 5,000
ex-soldiers who have not yet been enlisted. Brigade commanders must be limited in their
intake of kibbutz members. It has been agreed that the manpower directorate recruiters
will assign the people needed to the supreme command. He demands that the soldiers
from Haifa not be sent to work, but be mobilized. I added an amendment: except for key
people at work. Yisrael [Galili] proposes that we invite someone from Haifa. I invited
Karlenboim [Yosef Almogi] by phone.
Y itzhak [Sadeh]: About reserve [countrywide armored forces] and the Negev. We can
produce 24 armored vehicles every two weeks. That's enough for a batallion (450 men).
(Yosef [Avidar] disagrees: they won't make that many.) There is already one batallion
with 11 armored vehicles (and there are another 10 police cars – where are they?) (Yigael
[Yadin] proposes that [Yohanan] Ratner be charged with deciding about the armored
vehicles.) Tomorrow morning we'll discuss the Negev. There are about 70 jeeps. We need
18 The Friday That Changed Destiny
