Everyone made plans for the end of the British Mandate in Palestine - the British packed up their stuff and prepared to leave, the Jews tried to take more territory in Jerusalem, the Arab states mobilized their armies and their people, and the United States urged the Jews to postpone their declaration of independence.

The Irgun and Stern Gang, Jewish terrorist groups, attacked the village and massacred the people. This led to an Arab ambush on a convoy of doctors and professors. The world has condemned Deir Yassin, which led Israel to distance itself from the Irgun and Stern Gang. Few people, however, say anything about the Arab ambush.

To keep the road to Jerusalem open, the Jews captured the village of Kastel. The story of how the Jews and Arabs fought for this village helps us to understand why the Palestinian Arabs do not have an independent state today, 60 years after the Jews established their state.

The Jews suffered a tremendous disaster when they lost many of their vehicles and weapons trying to supply Kfar Etzion. This was when Ben-Gurion decided to launch an all-out effort to clear the Bab el Wad and drive a huge convoy of food to the starving Jews in Jerusalem.

The bombings continued as the Arabs bombed the Jewish Agency building, the center of Jewish government in Palestine. The bad news continued, as the Zionists realized that little money would come from America. This prompted Golda Meir to make her own plea for help. Then, Jerusalem came under seige.