Battle of Jenin (1948)

The Battle of Jenin was fought in the lead up to and during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Jenin, a strategically important city in the northern West Bank, was targeted by both Arab and Jewish forces.

Prior to the outbreak of large-scale hostilities, Jenin was a center of Arab activity and resistance against the British Mandate authorities. As the Mandate drew to a close and war loomed, control of Jenin and the surrounding area became crucial for both sides. For the Arabs, Jenin served as a vital link between Nablus and the Galilee region, and its control was essential for maintaining communication and supplying forces. For the Israelis, capturing Jenin would disrupt Arab lines of communication and prevent the influx of reinforcements from the north.

Initial fighting involved irregular Arab forces, including local militias and volunteers, against Haganah units. The Arab forces successfully repelled early attempts by Jewish forces to take the city.

After the official declaration of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, and the subsequent invasion by Arab armies, the fighting intensified. Iraqi forces, as part of the Arab Liberation Army, were deployed to Jenin to bolster the defense. The Israelis launched several operations to capture the city, facing stiff resistance from the combined Arab forces.

The battle saw periods of intense fighting and shifts in control. Ultimately, Jenin remained under Arab control for the duration of the 1948 war. The defense of Jenin by Arab forces, particularly the Iraqi contingent, was seen as a significant achievement in the Arab world. The failure of Israeli forces to capture Jenin contributed to the overall strategic stalemate in the northern part of the West Bank during the war.

Following the 1949 armistice agreements, Jenin became part of the Jordanian-controlled West Bank until the 1967 Six-Day War.