Yehiam Convoy - Convoy Ambush

Convoy Ambush

Ben Ami Pachter (born 1919) planned to lead a convoy on 21 March 1948, from Kiryat Haim Haifa because supplies were short and the defenders of Kibbutz Yehiam were running out of ammunition. The 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine put Yehiam within the limits of the Arab state rather than the Jewish State. The original date had to be postponed as word reached that many enemy troops were deployed along the route. On 27 March 1948, seven trucks, loaded with supplies and personnel, set off.

Obstacles in the way forced the convoy to proceed slowly. As the convoy neared al-Kabri the convoy's seven trucks were ambushed. From both sides of the road the bushes exploded with bullets. Ben Ami Pachter who was in the lead car shouted to those behind that it was an ambush and that they should get out anyway they could. After giving the warning he was struck in the head by a bullet, the armoured car, with his body and others who were wounded, reached Yehiam shortly afterwards.

The Scotsman published an account of the convoy ambush:

"The second ambush occurred at Kabri, near Naharia, seven miles north of Acre. Here the bodies of 42 Jews were found near five burnt out lorries. It is stated that in this action a column of six Jewish lorries were ambushed by 250 Arabs who were armed with rifles, two inch mortars, and light machine guns. The column, escorted by an armoured car, was attacked an hour before sunset on Saturday night. A British flying column was sent to relieve the Jews but failed to reach them, it is reported. British artillery then opened fire with 12-lb and 25-lb high-explosive shells, and the Arabs withdrew."

In the ambush 47 Haganah members were killed and 6 Arabs. Serious allegations were made against the Carmeli Brigade commander that he had not rushed to the aid of the Yehiam convoy.