Stamps: February '98 War of Independence (1947-1949) three-stamp souvenir sheet |
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Souvenir Sheet of 3 stamps (Zefat, Jerusalem, Eilat) 140mm x 75mm Designer: M. Pereg Size: 25.7 x 40mm Plate #: 336, 337, 338 Sheet of 15 stamps Tabs: 5 Printers: E. Lewin-Epstein Ltd. Printing Method: Offset
Castel
When these acts of sabotage increased, a company of the Fourth Battalion of the Palmach and a company of the Etzioni Brigade were sent to capture the village. They succeeded, but after 5 days of fierce fighting the village was retaken by Abd El-Kader El-Husseini, who was killed on the battlefield. In this battle, Palmach officer Shimon Alfassi gave the historic command: Commanders will stay and cover their soldiers' retreat. On the 9th of April, the Castel was recaptured by the same Palmach company and is now part of Israel.
Zefat
They had offered to evacuate all the non-military Jewish population from the Jewish quarter, but the Jewish high command had decided to capture the entire Zefat area instead. In order to lead this offensive, Yigal Alon was given command of the Upper Galilee. By capturing the Arab villages north and south of the city. two Palmach battalions surrounded Zefat. The third battalion then entered the Jewish Quarter and conquered the city fort, gaining control of the city by May 11th, 1948. The Arabs fled -- among them the Syrian commander Adib Shishakly.
Eilat
The soldiers, who discovered they did not have a flag at hand, quickly improvised one by drawing in ink on a bed sheet. When the Golani advance guard arrived two hours later, the two brigade commanders, Nachum Sang and Nachum Golan, sent the following telegram to the front commander, Yigal Alon:
EILAT (UM RASHRASH), 9TH ADAR, 10TH MARCH 1949, 16:00 HOURS.
Meir Pa'il
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