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The permanent exhibit ‘Alone on the Walls’ was established to perpetuate the memory of the defenders of the Quarter, and of those who lost their lives defending it, during the War of Independence of 1948. Inaugurated in 1990, the exhibition illustrates the siege of Jerusalem and specifically the battles for the Quarter during the last 15 days of warfare. The Quarter was under siege from December 1947 - after the UN resolution for the partition of Palestine, which ended the British Mandate and enabled the creation of the State of Israel – until May 1948. The Jewish Quarter was partially besieged by the Arabs for 150 days, while the British were still in control. During that period many incidents occurred that demanded a heavy price in blood from the Quarter’s residents and defenders alike.
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When the British withdrew in 1948, a regiment of the Arab Legion, assisted by a militia of 1500 troops from neighboring Arab countries, attacked the Jewish Quarter. The Quarter at the time was defended by 200 Haganah, Etzel and Lehi soldiers. The defenders fought house to house for 13 consecutive days until their strength, their numbers and their ammunition were depleted. By the 28th of May 1948, the area of the Quarter under their control was reduced to 20 dunams, in which resided 1600 helpless people. The defenders surrendered. 350 residents and defenders were taken into captivity, 1400 were expelled from their homes. 68 residents of the Quarter were killed during the six months of war: 39 defenders and 29 civilians.
The exhibit displays a collection of photographs taken by John Philips, a photo-journalist who documented the fall of the Jewish Quarter in 1948.
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