Operation Shfifon

{{Main|1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine|1948 Arab-Israeli War}}

{{See also|1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine#War of the roads and blockade of Jerusalem| Operation Nachshon}}

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Image:1948 Jerusalem Bevingrad Princess Mary Ave.jpg, was dubbed "Bevingrad". The building on the right is the Generali Building, which housed the British main quartermaster.]]

File:Israel 15 mai 1948.GIF{{Campaignbox 1948 Palestine war}}

On May 13, 1948, a day before the state of Israel was proclaimed, the Haganah launched Operation Shfifon ({{Langx|he|מבצע שפיפון}}, lit. Operation Cerastes Cerastes) with the aim of capturing the British outposts in the Old City of Jerusalem and preventing the Arab forces from taking control of them first. Such an eventuality had long been anticipated, and plans prepared called Operation Shfifon ('horned viper'; some translate it as 'Serpent') and quickly followed by Operation Kilshon.O Jerusalem! by Larry Collins, Dominique Lapierre Publisher: Simon & Schuster page 367