all, the first company had already dug in directly in front of the enemy lines, before the order to withdraw arrived.
Orange plantation near Gan-Yavne
The battle for Isdud
We are lying in the big field near Gan-Yavne. Soon we will be setting off. In the dusk one of our planes is flying a reconnaissance mission over enemy positions. Anti-aircraft guns fire tracer shells and every now and then it looks as though one has hit. But the pilot continues circling as if nothing had happened. We watch, fascinated.
Our last preparatory task is aided by Shalom, who grew up in Egypt: we have to learn a couple of Arabic words, so that we can tell the enemy soldiers to surrender - "Sallim nafsak!"6
Since we are not going to use the radio for company internal com-munication this time, I am appointed the company runner. This has a good and a bad side. The good is that the runner only needs to carry his personal weapon. He doesn’t have to drag along heavy weapons or extra ammunition. On the other hand it is a dangerous job. The runner is always racing around the battle area while his comrades can remain under cover. Since I am more frightened of carrying heavy weights than the dangers of battle, I am pleased with this task. In addition it will help me to follow events on the battlefield. I leave behind all unnecessary items like a pullover or a towel, and do with-out spare clothing. And above all: I’m not taking the steel helmet. Yesterday the thing really got on my nerves.
We set off. The password is "Beat Egypt!"
Now we have to save time. The scouts go further than usual toward the south. I miss the conspicuous points that I noticed earlier, in case we had to make a quick withdrawal. Still it takes a long time. It is over an hour before we cross the road and the railway tracks. The Arabs are very quiet today. Hardly a shot to be heard.
In front of me is Jerach, and behind me Israel the medic. Behind him Salomon and Jaakobi, the two sappers with the explosives. If a bullet hits their backpack, the whole staff will be heading for heaven ...!
We reach the wadi. I have an unpleasant feeling - something is not