The Lion's Gate: On the Front Lines of the Six Day War

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The Lion's Gate: On the Front Lines of the Six Day War Page 44

by Steven Pressfield


  Ilan, Nadav, 221

  Ilyushin bombers, 25, 103, 353

  Imam Ali Brigade, 128

  immigration to Israel, 4, 7, 23, 36, 54, 84, 140–41, 391

  Independence Day, Israeli, 1, 23

  Infantry Battalion 9, 238

  Inshas Air Base, 135, 145–47, 157

  intelligence:

  Israeli, 10, 21–22, 48, 58, 66, 71, 139, 186, 209, 231

  in plan for total war, 105

  Intercept Standby, 134–35, 137, 138, 150–51, 153–56

  “in the clear,” orders issued, 309, 311

  Iran, 333

  Iraq, 24, 39, 40, 88, 293

  in Six Day War, 207, 209, 263, 296, 312, 315

  in support of Egypt, 3, 6, 24, 55, 62, 75, 127

  Iraq Petroleum pipeline, 77–78

  Iraq Suwedan (“Monster on the Hill”), 55, 56–59

  Irgun Zvai Leumi (IZL), 126, 245, 389

  Isaac, 2, 252, 381

  Ishdud (later Ashdod), 47–48, 56, 57

  mukhtar (mayor) of, 58–59

  Islam:

  converts to, 324

  Jerusalem sites sacred to, 253, 268, 294, 319; see also specific sites

  Ismailiya, 345

  Israel:

  allies’ abandonment of, 24, 128

  Arab goal as eradication of, 4–6, 9, 15, 74, 96, 128

  arms embargo against, 41, 43, 85, 92, 110, 128

  constitution of, 391

  continuing strife over, 393–94

  dedication to serving of, 14–15, 17, 20, 46, 51–52, 57, 67, 73, 119–21, 126, 169–70, 204, 205, 277–78, 347, 352, 355, 390

  economy of, 6, 7–8, 26, 65, 246

  founding of (1948), 2, 28, 39–40, 76, 82, 366, 391

  global significance of, 2, 375–85

  idealism of, 58–59

  June 1967 map of, xiii

  limited military power of, 6, 40, 41, 46, 49, 50, 105, 127–28, 209, 210, 249, 285

  May 1948 pre-independence invasion of, 39–40, 45–48, 56–59

  M. Dayan as embodiment of, 361–63

  nonreligious ethic of, 206, 240, 247

  partisan politics in, 75, 126

  pioneers of, 50–51; see also specific individuals

  political repercussions for, 125

  population of, 4, 30, 33

  pre-independence heroes of, 50–52

  repatriation as dream of, 3, 51, 205–6, 261, 264–65, 326, 378, 387, 391–92

  small size of, 4, 8, 28, 124

  strategic geographical disadvantage of, 28, 30, 103

  symbolic vision of, 205–6

  warrior legacy of, 375–85

  Israel, Camp, 7

  Israel Air Force (IAF), 6, 28, 248, 306

  air power of, 108, 109

  attack strategy of, 16

  Egyptian Air Force compared with, 86

  establishment of, 30–42, 43–48, 56–59, 104

  in liberation of Jerusalem, 312–15

  maintenance crews of, 17, 108

  in plan for total war, 103–14

  securing planes for, 15, 41–42, 45–46, 56, 85, 106, 109, 152

  see also fighter pilots; specific squadrons

  Israel Defense Forces (IDF):

  autonomy and improvisation encouraged and valued in, 63, 96, 98, 112, 158, 160–61, 180, 204, 219, 225–26, 227, 231, 283, 347–48, 355–56, 357–58, 363

  fighting spirit of, 77, 82–83, 180–81, 201, 205, 214, 375

  founding of, 77–79

  radio station of, 364

  recruitment for, 20–21

  special forces of, see Sayeret Matkal; Unit 101

  training in, 21, 65

  unique doctrine and mission of, 27–28, 70, 285, 363

  youth of, 19–20

  see also commanders, IDF; specific companies

  Israeli, Chaim, 366

  Israeli flag:

  on Dome of the Rock, 379, 386

  flown at Western Wall, 325, 389–90

  Israel Journal: June 1967 (Y. Dayan), 336

  Itur HaGvura (Medal of Valor), 91, 94, 256

  Itur HaMofet (Medal of Distinguished Service), 18, 347, 404

  Itur HaOz (Medal of Courage), 4, 68, 118, 200, 268, 390, 404

  Jabotinsky, Ze’ev, 50–52, 74, 391

  “J’Accuse” (Zola), 377

  Jaffa Gate, 252, 373

  Jazy, Mashour Haditha al-, 209

  Jebel Libni, 240–41, 331, 369

  Jebel Mukaber, 263

  jeeps, 149, 175, 176, 188, 256, 258, 262, 265, 301, 314, 357

  recoilless rifles and, 287–88, 306, 308

  in recon, 18, 21, 86–187, 193–96, 200, 206, 214–19, 223, 236, 237, 239, 335, 338–39, 342

  Jehoshaphat, Church of, 301

  Jeremiah, 316

  Jerusalem, 24, 46, 49, 50, 65, 84–85, 119, 128, 142, 205, 209, 239, 373, 392

  division of, 28, 253, 261, 264, 269–70, 303, 378

  Eilam’s history in, 266

  geography and topography of, 252–54, 260, 267, 270, 272, 288, 303

  Jordanian occupation of, 1–3, 246, 253, 260

  legend of, 316

  R. Dayan in, 251–54

  sacred sites in, 2, 245–46, 261, 264, 268–70, 294, 295–96, 310, 336, 373–74, 392

  spiritual symbolism of, 246, 256, 259–61, 271, 295, 336, 392, 396

  walls of, 252; see also Western Wall

  Zamosh’s history in, 245–47, 271, 320

  see also East (Arab) Jerusalem; Old City; West (Jewish) Jerusalem; specific sites

  Jerusalem, in Six Day War, 245–328

  Arab civilians and homes in, 269, 272, 278, 279, 280, 283, 286–87, 289–90, 298–300, 304–5

  breakthrough point in, 266–67, 273–78, 290

  defense of, 262–65

  enemy strongpoints in, 282–83

  Israeli advance in, 280–82

  Israel’s victory in, 292

  Jordanian shelling of, 251–54

  lack of knowledge of, 269–70, 272, 276, 302

  liberation of, xv, 3, 64, 68, 316–28

  paratroopers in, 255–61, 262, 266–71, 272–91

  strategic value of, 263

  urban fighting in, 266–73, 282–91

  Jerusalem Brigade, 258, 294–95

  “Jerusalem of Gold,” 257–59, 261, 336

  Jesus of Nazareth, 253, 296, 348

  Jewish Legion, 51

  Jewish Settlement Police, Mobile Guards of, 78

  Jewish State, The (Herzl), 378

  Jews:

  Ashkenazi, 271

  discrimination in U.S. against, 39–40, 43–44

  new kind of, 254, 363

  Orthodox, 85, 116

  persecution of, 58, 261, 377–78; see also Holocaust

  Sephardim, 88

  Warrior, 375–85

  Zamosh on, 386–90

  Jezreel, Valley of, 272

  jihad, 33

  Jiradi Pass, 118, 177, 214–23, 220, 222, 231, 237, 238, 239, 242, 314, 369

  Joab, 27

  Johnson, Lyndon, 334

  Jordan, 9, 15, 24, 39, 55, 73, 88, 205

  allied with Egypt, 62, 75, 209, 262, 293, 364

  arbitrary establishment of boundaries for, 292–93

  defense of Jerusalem against, 262–65

  ethnic composition of, 293

  incursions from, 23, 26

  Israel’s border with, 1, 8, 28, 65–66, 267

  military strength of, 8, 153, 209

  in Six Day War, 127–28, 143, 153, 160–64, 207, 209, 255, 258

  as target of total war, 104

  TV prop
aganda from, 4

  see also Arab Legion; Hussein, king of Jordan

  Jordanian Air Force, see Royal Jordanian Air Force

  Israel’s attack on, see Moked, Operation

  Jordanian Police School, 267, 277, 291

  Jordan River, 46

  bridges over, 379

  Joseph, Eliahu, 403

  Joshua, 50, 53, 205

  M. Dayan’s regard for, 99, 100, 129–30, 206, 208, 363, 367, 378

  Judaism, 386–90

  Kabrit, 148, 151

  Kadesh, Operation, see Sinai Campaign

  Kadesh Barnea, 63, 206

  Kahalani, Avigdor, 34–35, 185–86, 188, 190–91, 191, 212, 219–22, 237, 242, 369

  Kanor, Zvi “Kantor,” 312

  Kapusta, Micha, 268, 300–301

  Karmi, Eitan, 133, 136, 138, 150, 153–55, 163–69

  Kaye, Danny, 374

  Kenan, Buki, 159

  Ken-Dror, Yehuda, 94

  Kenigsbuch, Shlomo, 195, 197, 199, 201, 239, 372, 403

  Kerem Shalom, 18, 19, 177, 207

  Kfar Menachem, Kibbutz, 157

  Kfar Sava military cemetery, 372

  Khan Younis, 118, 177, 184, 185–89, 390

  Khartoum, Arab summit at, 393–94

  Khrushchev, Nikita, 103

  kibbutzim, 4, 55, 65, 248, 296

  communal lifestyle of, 7–8, 245–46

  first, 7, 362, 391

  nonreligious, 7, 247

  religious, 246, 247, 271

  threats to, 41, 46, 119, 213, 351

  see also specific communities

  “kills,” 13–14, 133–34, 139, 352–53

  competition for, 154, 165, 168, 353

  King David Hotel, 24, 126, 251, 252, 254

  King Talal Brigade, 128, 316, 319

  Kinneret, Kibbutz, 4, 99

  Kiryat Shmona (City of the Eight), 51, 357

  Kissilov, Itzhak, 178, 183–84

  Knesset, 27, 113, 253, 254, 264, 288, 366, 391

  Kol Israel (Voice of Israel), 4, 31, 34

  Kollek, Teddy, 254, 395

  Kook, Abraham Isaac, 271

  Kook, Zvi Yehuda, 271, 387

  Koren, Haim, 32–33, 34

  Kornblit, Zvika, 178, 197–98, 215–19, 236–37, 239–40

  Kosygin, Alexei, 103, 333–34

  Kovner, Abba, 397

  Kuneitra, 350, 355, 356, 357

  Kuntilla, 11, 209, 335

  Kusseima, 62, 63

  Kuwait, 62, 128

  Labor Party, Israeli, 362

  Lamm, Miriam, 20, 20, 149, 150

  Landau, Eli, 323, 390

  landing zones (LZs), 226, 228

  Last Supper, 254

  Latrun, 46, 49, 258

  Lavi, Haim “Etzioni,” 214, 216, 217, 404

  Lavi, Leizer, 283, 304, 328

  Lawrence of Arabia, 40

  “leading from the front,” 219–20

  League of Nations, 84, 252

  Lebanon, 24, 39, 40, 119, 128, 129, 208, 293

  Lederman, Zvika, 212

  Lehi, 204

  Lenart, Lou, v, 44

  in establishment of IAF, 39–42, 43–48, 56–59, 104

  on M. Dayan, 361–63

  Levanon, Yair, 274, 321–22, 322, 325, 388

  Levushin, Arnon, 157–60

  Levy, Reuven, 3, 203

  Lewis, Sam, 45

  Liberal party, 126

  Libya, 24, 128

  Life, 179, 327, 364

  Líneas Aéreas de Panama, 41

  Lion’s Gate, 252, 309, 310, 373

  in Old City’s liberation, 311, 316–18, 363, 386, 389

  “Vietnam” as code name for, 310–11

  Lod, 50, 81

  Lod airfield, 7, 8, 9, 24

  loess, 60

  Long Range Desert Group, 77

  Los Angeles, Calif., 45

  Maarachot, 80–81

  Maariv (“Evening”), 19, 375

  Maccabee, Judah, 378

  McNamara, Robert, 334

  Mafraq, 163

  Majdal Shams, 357

  Maklef, Mordechai, 65, 81

  Malka, Rafi, 322

  Mandate Palestine, 40, 45, 46, 55, 77, 84–85, 126, 139, 263, 348, 389, 391

  Mandelbaum Gate, 253, 270, 273–74

  Marines, U.S.:

  Lenart in, 43–45, 58

  M. Dayan on, 96, 375–76

  Matalon-Barnoach, Neora, 97–100

  Matt, Danny, 49, 62, 70, 73, 94, 203–4, 224–29, 231–35, 298, 349, 350–51, 355, 392

  Mauritania, 333

  Medal of Distinguished Service, 1

  medics, 239, 258, 279, 290

  Mediterranean Sea, 112, 145, 188, 216

  Megiddo, 8

  Mendler, Albert, 11

  Messerschmitt 109, Israel’s junk version of, 42, 43, 46–48

  mezek (mule), 42

  Mighty Mouse, 313

  MiGs, 6, 13, 86, 103, 133, 147–48, 151, 154–56, 159–60, 163–67, 169, 352–53

  Miller, Glenn, 42

  Milo, Moshe, 6, 8, 255–56, 258–61, 260, 269, 291, 303, 304, 309–11, 318, 320–23, 325, 388

  mines, minefields, 194–95, 200, 229–30, 232, 275, 335, 358

  Ministerial Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, 29, 127, 129

  Mirages, 15–17, 106, 108, 109, 137, 138–39, 149, 152, 154, 155, 160, 165–67, 169, 248, 350, 352, 354

  compressor stalls in, 166

  modifications to, 27–28, 110–11

  navigation in, 145

  piloting of, 142–43, 158

  missiles, 142, 155

  guns vs., 106, 110

  Mitla Pass, 49, 62, 86, 91–96, 98, 225, 249, 256, 268, 287, 332

  Mitzna, Amram, 220, 222

  moked (focus), 114

  Moked, Operation:

  basic battle pattern for, 161–62, 167

  bureaucratic skepticism about, 113, 134, 136

  execution of, 131–72

  goal of, 134

  ground operation in, 148–49

  map of, 132

  naming of, 114

  planning of, 103–14, 152

  strategy for, 103–9, 111

  success of, 151, 154, 158, 160, 162, 163, 249–50, 346

  test pilots for, 109–11

  training for, 111–12

  momentum of events, 242, 262–65, 295, 363

  morale, Israeli, 64–65, 249, 256, 263

  boosting of, 280

  entertainers in, 368

  Moriah, Mount, 2, 252, 257

  Moroccan Gate (Sha’ar Mugrabim), 321–23, 389

  Morocco, 24, 62

  Morrison, Jim, 4–5

  Morris’s, 182

  Moses, 76, 85, 125, 206, 260, 366

  moshavim (cooperative villages), 7, 254

  Moshe Dayan: Israel’s Controversial Hero (Bar-On), 382

  Mossad, 139

  Mount of Olives, 253, 269, 270, 277, 295, 296, 298, 300, 307, 309, 309, 311

  Muhammad, Prophet, 141, 253

  Muslims, see Islam

  Mustangs, 84, 85–87, 89, 226

  Mystères, 16, 86, 108, 109, 138, 163, 350

  Nablus Road (Shechem Road), 276–77, 279, 282, 286, 291

  Nachal, 65

  Nahalal, 53, 55, 77, 129, 206, 254, 381–82, 383

  Nahal Oz, Kibbutz, 383, 393

  Nakhl, 335–36

  Narkiss, Uzi, 49, 264, 268, 297, 310, 336, 362, 363, 376

  Nasser, Gamal Abdel, 12, 17, 30, 56, 127, 128

  aggression by, 23–24, 82

  allies of, 62, 262

>   eradication of Israel as goal of, 9, 33, 62, 96

  M. Dayan on, 130

  pride of, 332–33

  in Sinai Campaign, 23, 80, 91, 92, 130

  in Six Day War, 150, 188, 208–9, 249, 292, 293, 312, 331, 346, 347

  vision of Arab unity, 5, 5, 9, 33, 80, 128, 153, 294

  Nathan, Camp, 182

  Nativity, Church of, 374

  Naveh, Haim, 348, 354

  navigation:

  in Mirages, 145

  night, 21

  skill of, 347

  Navy, U.S., Sixth Fleet, 333

  Nazareth, 348

  Nazis, 43, 85, 229

  Nebi Yusha, 119–21

  Nechemiah House (Bet Nechemiah), 394–96

  Ne’eman, Amos, 258

  Negev Desert, 41, 55, 75, 112, 115, 294, 313

  Neot Midbar (Desert Oasis) hotel, 313

  neshama (soul), 387

  Netanya, 153

  Nevo, Yak, 103–4, 109, 143, 152

  Newsweek, 128

  New York, N.Y., 39–40, 46, 179

  New York Times, 251, 375

  night fighting, 50, 64, 65–66, 70, 73, 117, 226, 230

  in Jerusalem, 272, 273, 282–91, 300, 306, 316

  Special Night Squads, 77–79

  by youth, 53–54

  “night leaguers,” 343

  night nav, 21

  Nile River delta, 16, 109, 146

  99th Infantry Brigade, 230

  Nir, Natan “Natke,” 229–30, 235

  Nissenbaum, Ben-Zion “Benzi,” 186, 195, 372, 403

  Nissenbaum, Nehama, 372

  Nitzana, 10, 60, 76, 224

  Noorduyn Norseman, 41–42, 48

  oil, 24, 40, 77–78, 163, 264, 333

  Okinawa, battle for, v, 39, 43, 44, 58

  Old City, 50, 84, 291, 373–74, 396

  geography of, 252–53, 270

  Jews barred from, 253, 260, 261, 388

  Jordan’s occupation of, 1–3, 246, 253

  liberation of, 267–68, 271, 272, 300–301, 303–4, 306–11, 309, 316–28, 336, 348, 362

  M. Dayan’s dilemma over, 295–97, 310

  and momentum of events, 242, 262–65, 297, 363

  orders to enter, 310–11, 316, 363

  seven gates of, 252–53

  operational finality, 141

  Operational Training Unit (OTU), 312

  Oren, Shlomo, 200

  Orr, Ori, 19, 149

  in aftermath of Six Day War, 368, 370, 371

  in Six Day War, 182, 184, 188–91, 192–96, 212–13, 237–39, 338, 340, 343–44, 364

  Ottoman Empire, 84, 252, 293, 391

  Ottoman railroad line, 188

  Ouragan fighter-bomber, 15, 86, 108, 109, 145

  Palace Hotel, 299, 308

  Palestine, 40, 41, 141, 204, 293

  British Mandate, 40, 45, 46, 55, 77, 84–85, 126, 139, 263, 348, 389, 391

  Palestinian Division, 18, 175

 

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