Operation Ha-Har

**Affected Villages:**
Bayt Jibrin, Bayt Nattif, Zakariyya, Isdud, al-Burayj, Bayt Umm al-Mays, Bayt 'Itab, Jarash, Khirbat al-Tannur, Khirbat al-'Umur, Dayr Aban, Dayr al-Shaykh, Dayr al-Hawa, Sufla, 'Allar, al-Qabu, and al-Walaja.

**Operation Ha-Har** was an offensive launched by the **Harel and Etzioni Brigades** of the Israeli army after the second truce. The objective of the operation was to widen the corridor leading to Jerusalem and connect it with the occupied territories in the Hebron hills. Israeli forces moved to occupy a number of villages in the southern half of the Jerusalem corridor as part of an operation complementary to **Operation Yoav**, which Israeli forces were conducting farther south (see Barbara, Gaza District). The objective of the two operations was to eliminate the Palestinian civilian communities located in the occupied areas.

The operation began on the night of **18–19 October 1948** with an attack on Egyptian forces west of **Dayr Aban**. The Egyptian forces, positioned only about 60 metres from the Israeli forces, had established themselves there during the second truce. They provided protection to most of the villages surrounding Dayr Aban.

Despite fighting the Egyptian forces, the Israeli forces were especially careful not to draw the **Jordanian Arab Legion** into the battle in this sector. During Operation Ha-Har, the Egyptian forces were therefore compelled to withdraw westward, enabling Israeli forces to occupy several villages southwest of Jerusalem.