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The War of Independence: Operation Dekel

(July 9-18, 1948)

The greatest offensive in the north during the ten days of fighting [in between the first and second truce] was "Operation Dekel," whose objective was to capture of Nazareth. This effort was carried out by the 7th Brigade and a battalion from the Carmeli Brigade, along with some elements from Golani Brigade. Following the capture of numerous Arab positions between the coast and the foothills southeast of Acre, the force successfully attacked Shefaram on 14 July and pressed on southeast to take Zippori the following day, after stubborn fighting. When the force was less than a mile away from the city of Nazareth, the commander of Nazareth sent out an armored car unit to block its advance. The brigade column advanced without pausing as it fired. The city surrendered on the eve of 16 July. Qawuqji himself, together with the bulk of his forces, succeeded in escaping into the mountains to the north through routes that IDF troops had not yet had a chance to seal. The result of "Operation Dekel" was to free the entire belt of Lower Galilee from Haifa Bay to Lake Kinneret.


Source: Israel Defense Forces