A national memorial site to the defenders of the Jewish Quarter
who fell in its defense in the War of Independence was created by JQDC At the corner
of Ha-Yehudim Street and Lohamei Tasach Street. From December 1947 to May 1948,
for five continuous months, the quarter was held under siege by the Arabs under
British supervision. For an additional 13 days, from the 16th of May until the 28th
of May, the Quarter was under constant attack. During this two-week period, 58 defenders
and civilians fell, including women, children and the elderly. A total of 69 people
fell in the Quarter, of whom 39 were defenders and the rest civilians. 48 of the
fallen were buried in a communal grave and were brought to burial on the Mount of
Olives after the Six-Day War. The burial site of 8 casualties is unknown, and 12
more were buried elsewhere. The names of all 69 casualties are inscribed on the
monument. The map of the battle of the Quarter is also on exhibition at the memorial
site.
