The Haj - Leon Uris [130]
Everyone was packed close to the mosque, where martial music blared from the minaret’s loudspeaker, interrupted every few moments by an announcement.
‘THE ARAB LEGION HAS CROSSED THE JORDAN!’
‘THE IRAQIS ARE ALREADY IN NABLUS!’
‘TEL AVIV HAS BEEN BOMBED BY THE EGYPTIAN AIR FORCE!’
‘THE SYRIANS HAVE SWEPT DOWN FROM THE GOLAN INTO NORTHERN GALILEE!’
‘LEBANON REPORTS SUCCESS ALL ALONG ITS SOUTHERN FRONTIER!’
Rumors of one victory after another deluged conversation. Every new report over the loudspeaker ended with a chilling declaration of what was going to happen to the Jews. On the one hand, my brothers and I were swept up in the exuberance of the moment. On the other, we were shaken with hunger, our displacement, and the total mystery of our situation. Within half an hour, it was clear that any shelter to rent was beyond our means.
By the fourth day in Tulkarm, our quandary had deepened. We had a tree that gave us shelter of sorts and enough money to stay a half step ahead of starvation. Otherwise we did not know where to go or what to do. No government officials or relief agencies had made an appearance, nor did anyone know of a town that had organized anything to help us. Haj Ibrahim seemed impotent in the situation and this worsened our fears.
Rumors spilled out like a million leaves blown from a tree, twisting and fluttering aimlessly. Things looked very good for our armies. Even Father, who was always skeptical of exaggerations, could not help but get caught up in the fever. He hinted that perhaps the Arabs leaders had been telling the truth when they asked us to leave to make the way clear for their armies. Our simple problem was to be able to hold out until we could return to Tabah.
We had scavenged the area and had a makeshift tenting of skins, canvas, wood, and tin. The women had set up a crude but workable stove. During this time, my brothers and I began to feel closer. I even got along with Kamal.
We were in Samaria on the West Bank of the river. Three towns—Tulkarm, Jenin, and Nablus—formed what was called the ‘triangle.’ Within, it was all-Arab territory. Kaukji’s Army of Liberation began to move in, but we no longer feared them, for we had no reason to believe they were still looking for Ibrahim.
Soon forward elements of the regular Iraqi Army linked up with them. The military strategy was obvious. From where we were in Tulkarm, it was only a distance of ten miles to the sea and a Jewish city named Netanya. If Kaukji and the Iraqis could drive to Netanya, the Jews would be cut in half.
Skirmishing was very close to us, but in a strange way it helped. Every time a small battle erupted, the farmers would either run away or they would hide. My brothers and I took advantage of this to loot orchards, pull up what could be taken from the fields, and run down stray livestock. With our stomachs filled, our spirits soared.
The Arab victory march continued! As the Iraqis and Kaukji poised to push to the sea, the Jews were on the defensive all over Palestine. ...
Egypt advanced in two columns. Gaza and Beersheba were taken and the Kibbutz Yad Mordechai was captured!
Syria captured Kibbutz Mishmar Hayarden and spilled into the central Galilee!
Moslem Brotherhood battalions under Egyptian command raced up the Dead Sea toward Jerusalem!
The greatest victories of all went to the Jordanian Legion. The four kibbutzim of the Etzion Bloc were captured, as was the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. And West Jerusalem was under attack! But most of all, the police fortress at Latrun was in Legion hands! That meant the Legion was only two miles from Tabah!
As suddenly as our mighty march had mounted, it seemed to collapse. Kibbutzim which had previously been reported as having fallen were now reported as putting up stiff resistance. The Iraqi breakthrough to Netanya never materialized. In fact, the Jews were now attacking the ‘triangle.’
When