MULLAHS AND MISSILES 177formations that General Glubb had trained. The Israeli 7th Haganah Bri-
gade launched an attack with more than 400 troops, supported by a heavy
mortar bombardment. The Arab Legion responded with a heavy and ac-
curate artillery fire that broke the back of the Jewish assault.
On May 26 the Arab Legion counterattacked one of the principal Ha-
ganah strongholds to the north of the Jerusalem road and drove out the
Etzioni garrison, capturing the Radar Hill near Biddu. Jewish forces also
pushed to take positions in order to attack the Latrun-Ramallah road—the
main supply route for the Arab Legion forces in Latrun. This move would
then be supported by a Jewish armored battalion, an infantry battalion,
and by the fire of mortars and artillery.
The Israeli armored forces pushed to the outskirts of Latrun and even
pushed into the courtyard of the police post, but the Jewish infantry had
been stopped by the Arab Legion’s heavy small-arms fire and artillery
fire. Despite the support of flamethrowers and point-blank cannon fire
from armored cars, Israeli engineers failed to blow down the wall of the
police station. Lacking the necessary support, the Jewish forces were
stopped cold by the steady, disciplined actions of the Arab Legion. The
situation had been so desperate that the Legion had even thrown its clerks
and cooks into the battle. Fighting desperately the Arab Legion held until
the Jewish forces were forced to withdraw. This fight at Latrun demon-
strated what the Arab armies would have been capable of, had they been
better led.
As the war progressed, the Arab Legion found itself stripped of its
British officers as a result of United Nations political pressure against
Britain as well as the Jordanian government’s distrust of British officers.
Lieutenant General Glubb had come under increasing criticism for his
desire to support the Egyptians, since that violated the objectives of King
Abdullah of Jordan, and for his willingness not to commit large forces to
the defense of Jerusalem. His military perspective had not adequately
taken into consideration Muslim sensitivities and jealousies. With the
Arab legion neutralized by politics, no Arab or Muslim force was capable
of evicting the Jews. An eight-year armed truce ensued as both sides
stepped back to consider their options. During this period the Arab forces
received at least rudimentary training and massive Soviet material aid.
The Israeli forces received small shipments of largely obsolete weapons
from the West.
The 1956 war was a preemptive strike by the Israelis into the Sinai,
designed to stop incursions by Palestinian guerrillas into Israeli territory.
It occurred simultaneously with the Franco-British attack against the Suez
Canal after Egypt violated various financial agreements.