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Operation Dekel

Operation Dekel (palm tree) was the largest offensive in the north of Palestine during the first and second truce of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It was carried out by the Sheva' Brigade, a batallion from the Carmeli Brigade along with some elements from the Golani Brigade between July 8-18. Its objective was to capture Nazareth and the lower Galilee.

The operation was led by Ben Dunkelman, a Canadian volunteer who was the commander of the Sheva' Brigade.

July 15, Israeli aircrafts bombed the village Saffuriya and caused panic among the population. Most of the villagers fled northwards toward Lebanon only about 100 elderly stayed put.

July 16, in the evening Nazareth surrendered to the Israelis after a light fight which only involved one Israeli casualty and one wounded. The ALA forces in the village under the command of Fawzi al-Qawuqji retreated to the mountains in the north. In sharp contrast to the surrounding towns, the inhabitants in Nazareth were never forced to evacuate.

Table of contents
1 Palestinian communities captured in Operation Dekel
2 Units participating in Operation Dekel
3 See Also
4 External links & References

Palestinian communities captured in Operation Dekel

Palestinian communities captures in Operation Dekel
Name Date Resistance Brigade
Kuwaykat July 10, 1948 ??? ???
Jiddin, Khirbat July 10-11, 1948 ??? ???
Ma'lul July 14 ??? ???
Saffuriyya July 15 ??? ???
Amqa July 15-16 1948 ??? ???
al-Damun July 15-16 1948 ???? Sheva' Brigade
Mi'ar July 15-18, 1948 ??? Sheva' Brigade
Nahf July 15-18, 1948 ??? ???
Sakhnin July 15-18, 1948 ??? Sheva' Brigade
Nazareth July 16 ???? ????
Lubya July 16 ??? ???
Hittin July 16-17, 1948 ??? ???
Nimrin July 16-17, 1948 ??? ???
Sha'ab July 18, 1948 ??? ???
Al-Birwa July 18, 1948 ??? ???

Units participating in Operation Dekel

See Also

List of Israeli military operation in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war

External links & References