There are almost no soldiers left in the region of the brigade. Forces of the Arab Legion and local fighters have occupied Gezer in the east. The kibbutzim of Gat and Gabon are holding on as if by a miracle. There too, there are hardly any soldiers. All the forces are concentrated in the section between Isdud and Hill 69 against the Egyptians. There is no reserve.
Tomorrow the ceasefire is due to come into force. But will the Egyptians respect the ceasefire, if it is clear to them that just one more blow is all that is needed to seal Israel’s fate?
* * *
Slowly the awful day drags by. Each second is an eternity. The comman-der himself has driven to Be’er Tuvia. The third and decisive round has begun.
In Beit Daras, between Be’er Tuvia and Hill 69, are two Israeli companies. One of them went to the hill to provide supporting fire for the company that abandoned the position there. They reach the edge of an apricot orchard about two hundred meters away from the hill.
One FIAT, which is something like a bazooka, three machine guns and eighty Israeli boys are the defenses of the State of Israel at this moment.
The Egyptians occupy the hill. Their spearhead, the tanks, isadvanc-ing toward Beit Daras. Suddenly they meet unexpected resistance. Three PI AT rounds hit the tank but don’t explode. Machine gun bullets scratch the steel. A moment between life and death. The tanks halt. The Egyptian commander thinks for a moment, then the command arrives by radio: back to Hill 69 to take position there.
The Israeli commander grabs the opportunity and strikes again. A small unit of jeeps together with half-track vehicles from a Palmach battalion attacks the hill, pours heavy fire onto it, and returns.
Again the Egyptian army halts. The aggressiveness of little David has impressed the cautious, heavily armed Goliath. Round three to the Israelis.
The ceasefire comes into effect.
* * *
The ceasefire is no time for relaxation. Both sides prepare for the next confrontation. Both analyze the consequences of past battles, draw their own conclusions, and correct their faults.