Capture of Haifa in 1948: Encyclopedia II - Capture of Haifa in 1948 - The battle

Capture of Haifa in 1948 - The battle

After the UN resolution to partition Palestine, the Jewish neighborhoods of Haifa were under constant attacks by Arab snipers. The neighborhoods of Hadar suffered major shelling from the Arab neighborhood of Halisa. Further attacks were carried on from the Arab villages on the shore of the Mediterranean, blocking transportation between the Jewish neighborhoods of Haifa and Tel Aviv.

Through Christian intermediaries, Haganah proposed a cease-fire to the Arab leadership in Haifa. The Arabs declined, having been advised by the Arab military command in Akko that there was a large Arab force south of Haifa, near Kibbutz Mishmar Haemek, planning to attack. The military command also advised Arabs in Haifa to evacuate to Akko by sea. The harbour soon filled with Arabs fleeing the city.

At 10:30 in the morning of April 21, 5,000 fighters from the Lehi and the Carmeli Brigade participated in the offensive that started from the Jewish neighbourhood Hadar HaCarmel and began shelling the Arab Muslim neighborhhod of Halisa. The 3,500-5,000 Arab irregulars and elements of the Arab Liberation Army could not mount a real defense. Furthermore, the 3,000 defenders of Al-Tira who tried to reinforce the city were intercepted by the British. The next day the Arab National Committee of Haifa were prepared to ask for a truce via Stockwell. Stockwell agreed to meet with the Israelis, and returned 15 minutes later; however, the terms proposed by the Haganah -- complete disarmament, surrender of weapons, and a curfew -- were not accepted by the Arab leadership.

That afternoon, a meeting was held in the town hall to discuss terms of the truce. Due to pressure by the Arab military command, the Arab delegation declared their inability to endorse the proposed truce and requested protection for the evacuation of Haifa's Arab citizens. The request came as a surprise, as the Haganah leaders urged most Arabs to stay, but was granted.

The next day, April 23, the Arab leadership met with Stockwell to discuss the organization of the evacuation, despite the efforts of some Jewish civil leaders to block the flight. Most Muslims left the city and moved to Arab villages in the Galilee; however most Christians remained in Haifa, and still live there today.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The battle", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki