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1948 Battle of Kastel... Mandatory Palestine...
1948 Battle of Kastel... Mandatory Palestine...
Item # 724242
April 09, 1948
THE NEW YORK TIMES, April 9, 1948
* Battle of Kastel in Mandatory Palestine
* Prelude to the declaration of the state of Israel
* Arab military leader Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni, killed
The top of page 8 has a one column heading: "ARABS WIN KASTEL BUT CHIEF IS SLAIN" with subheads and photo of Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni. (see images)
Complete with all 46 pages, rag edition in great condition.
background: The Battle of Kastel (al-Qastal) took place from April 3–8, 1948, during the civil war phase of the 1947–1949 conflict in Mandatory Palestine, when Jewish and Arab forces were fighting for control ahead of the end of the British Mandate. Kastel was a fortified hilltop village west of Jerusalem that dominated the Tel Aviv–Jerusalem highway, making it crucial for supplying the besieged Jewish population in the city. As part of Operation Nachshon, Palmach and Haganah units attacked and captured the village, temporarily securing the road; however, Arab forces led by Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni, commander of the Jerusalem front and a leading figure associated with the Arab Liberation Army, mounted a determined counterattack. During the fighting on April 8, al-Husayni was killed—reportedly shot at close range after becoming separated from his men—causing a major leadership vacuum and demoralization among Palestinian fighters; many withdrew to attend his funeral in Jerusalem, enabling Jewish forces to retake and firmly secure Kastel. The battle marked a turning point in the struggle for the Jerusalem corridor, weakening organized Palestinian resistance in the area just weeks before the declaration of the State of Israel and the subsequent intervention of neighboring Arab states.
Category: The 20th Century
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