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Because of Israel’s attack into Jordan in 1966, King Hussein was hesitant to launch an attack against Israel. He was convinced to do so by Nasser’s lie about Egypt’s being victorious in Sinai. Nasser told Hussein that planes seen returning to Israel were actually Egyptian bombers. They were not. Jordan reluctantly embarked into war with 55,000 men, 300 tanks, and a small air force, which was already being obliterated by Israel’s Air Force. Israel responded to Jordanian maneuvers by deploying 40,000 men, 200 tanks, and also recalled General Mordecai Gur’s 55th paratrooper brigade.
Israel’s initial plan against Jordan on June 5 was to defend and wait. They never had the idea to provoke an attack; however, when Jordan was coaxed into believing Egypt was gaining a superior position, the Jordanian army began bombarding West Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Kfar Saba. The Jordanian and Iraqi Air Forces also bombed civilians and airfields with little effect. Israel downed many attacking planes, and the Israeli government responded to Jordanian belligerence. At first a message was sent promising no aggression against Jordan, if it pulled back. King Hussein replied “It is too late, the die is cast.” Israel had to act as civilians were being either killed or wounded. Israel reacted on June 6.
Israeli Air Force reciprocated Jordanian strikes by bombing air fields in Jordan. Timing was perfect, as the IAF bombed when Jordanians were refueling grounded planes. All of Jordan’s fighters, two helicopters, and many transport planes were destroyed, while Israel only lost one fighter due to a fire which broke out in the plane.
Israel’s Defense Force began to take the offensive on the ground as well. By nightfall the Jerusalem Brigade had positioned itself just south of Jerusalem, and General Gur’s paratroopers as well as the Harel Brigade surrounded northern Jerusalem. Israel wanted to be careful about entering Jerusalem as they did not want to destroy any part of the old city, so, Israel advanced cautiously. The Jerusalem Brigade captured the strategic Ammunition Hill against some resistance. From there, the IDF located and destroyed Jordanian artillery to effectively stop the barrage against civilian targets. Still fearing the worst Moshe Dayan ordered the IDF not to enter the city itself, once Ammunition Hill was secured.
June 7 witnessed heavy fighting as the Harel Brigade continued its assault in the northwestern mountains outside Jerusalem. Jordan’s fortress at Laturn was captured. Radar Hill and the University of Jerusalem’s Mount Scopus Campus were taken while the Harel Brigade pushed toward Ramallah. They would have met the 60thJordanian Brigade, but the IAF decimated it. In conjunction with the northern push, General Peled’s division began capturing portions of the West Bank, then held by Jordan. Moshe Dayan was still holding his initial order to not enter Jerusalem, but news leaked that the UN was about to declare a cease-fire. Dayan changed his mind and began the assault into Jerusalem.
Gur’s Paratroopers entered the old city region and captured the Western Wall and Temple Mount. Street to street fighting ensued with the paratrooper brigade solely being used to keep the Holy Sites intact. The Jerusalem Brigade did enter the city once Gur’s Paratroopers were victorious. From there, the IDF moved southward taking Judea, Hebron and Gush Etzion, while Harel’s Brigade to the north moved toward the Jordan River capturing Bethlehem. Because the IAF was so superior, Peled’s Brigade could make further advancements in the West Bank. Soon, Peled joined with the Central Command 10th and crossed into the East Bank forestalling Jordanian bridge crossings. This maneuver effectively finished Jordan’s involvement on June 7.
The West Bank, Jerusalem, and other sites sacred to Israel were now in possession. Israel had no designs on Jordanian territory, but two days after fighting began, had occupied much of it. More could have been acquired, but U.S. pressure brought Peled’s Brigade back across the Jordan River instead of a longer campaign into Jordan. Israel was not yet done; however, as Syria was still attacking in the north. With Egypt and Jordan both out of the war by June 7, the IDF turned its attention toward the final front of the war, which began in earnest June 8.
armchaircapitalist 