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Brigadier General (Res) Avigdor Kahalani
Chairman of the Assoc. on behalf of the Soldier
A break in "Burma way" to Jerusalem
During the War of Independence, the Arab forces succeeded in taking control of hills that overlooked the approach to Jerusalem, and shot at any Israeli vehicles that tried to use the road.
The road was known as the 'Burma Way', named after the historical name given to the road, it used to transport supplies between Burma and China at the time of the second war.
This road was the only connection between the coastal area and Jerusalem and the Arabs imposed a blockade on the Jewish settlement of Jerusalem.
The lack of new supplies of food and equipment used for fighting to Jerusalem, greatly weakened the Jewish front in the city, and it was feared that the whole of Jerusalem would fall into the hands of the Jordanian Legion.
Convoys of weapons and food sustained heavy losses, and in many cases did not even succeed in arriving at their destination.
The "Nahshon Operation" 1948, resulted in a temporary breakthrough, but after that, the blockade continued.
The situation forced the I.D.F commanders to look for alternative routes.
The 'Burma way" was a bypass that served as a way for Israeli army forces and supplies to reach Jerusalem.
The road was used during the War of Independence.
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