May 13, 1948: The Last of the British Withdrew From Jerusalem

1948: Jordanian soldiers attacking a Jewish Yeshiva
at the Jewish Quarter

In the early 20th century, the Jewish population of the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem reached 19,000. In 1948, during the Arab-Israeli War, its population was about 2,200-2,500.
On May 13, 1948 the last of the British withdrew from Jerusalem with the ending of the 31 years of British Mandate to Palestine. At the same day, a regiment of the Jordanian Arab Legion, assisted by armed militia of 1,500 troops from neighboring Arab countries, attacked the Jewish Quarter in the old city.

The Quarter was defended by 150 Jewish soldiers, members of the resistant organizations which later in the coming weeks, came together to form the IDF.  The weapons at their disposal included:  45 guns, 47 submachine guns, 17 rifles, two machine guns and a mortar. On May 16, irregular Arab forces began their attack on the Quarter and succeeded in taking about one third of its area. The defenders of the Jewish Quarter fought house to house, until their numbers and their ammunition were depleted.
By the 28th of May, the defenders were forced to surrender. 350 residents and defenders were taken into captivity, 1400 were expelled from their homes. 68 residents of the Quarter were killed during the war: 39 defenders and 29 civilians.
Following the departure of the Jewish residents in the 1948 Arab Israeli War, a Jewish presence in the old city of Jerusalem ceased to exist until 1967.

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