The Night Israel Almost Lost Jerusalem

In June 1967, Israeli paratroopers fought a brutal uphill battle for Ammunition Hill, a heavily fortified Jordanian position in divided Jerusalem. Under fire, they crossed minefields and trench networks in close combat, suffering heavy losses. The capture of the hill broke Jordanian defenses and opened the way to East Jerusalem, leading to the city’s reunification after nearly two decades of division, and reshaping the future of the city. Since 1901, Jewish National Fund-USA has strengthened the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives that secure the country’s North and South. By preserving heritage sites like Ammunition Hill, Jewish National Fund-USA invests in Israel’s future, driving tourism, generating jobs, and helping communities thrive. Find more information about visiting Ammunition Hill and other parts of Israel below. You belong in Israel. Find your Jewish National Fund-USA tour or mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/?utm_source=partner_opendor&ut… Educators can explore Israel on Jewish National Fund-USA's special mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/tour/index/educators-mission-t… Jewish National Fund-USA's Alexander Muss High School in Israel offers semester, summer, and mini-mester academic experiences for North American teens. Find out more: https://www.amhsi.org/?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_med… Learn more about the Jewish National Fund-USA's work preserving heritage sites in Israel: https://www.jnf.org/our-work/heritage-site-preservation?u… 0:00 Intro 1:06 Jerusalem Divided After 1948 2:18 Jordan Enters the War 3:23 Why Ammunition Hill Mattered 4:15 The Battle Begins 6:15 Fighting Inside the Trenches 7:51 Nava’s Final Mission 8:52 Israeli Reinforcements Arrive 9:51 Destroying the Jordanian Bunker 11:17 The Human Cost of the Battle 11:48 How Ammunition Hill Changed Jerusalem 12:21 Israel-Jordan Relations Today Sources Rabinovich, Abraham. The Battle for Jerusalem, June 5-7, 1967. Jewish Publication Society of America, 1972. All Israel News. "Ammunition Hill: The Battle That Reunited Jerusalem." YouTube, July 8, 2025, https://youtu.be/EX8yN8I9oJU StandWithUs. "The battle of Ammunition Hill, Six-Day War." YouTube, June 5, 2020, "50 Years Later, 3 Soldiers Reenact, Remember Their Iconic Six-Day War Photo." The Times of Israel, April 29, 2017. Jewish National Fund-USA. "Ammunition Hill Information." JNF Subscribe and turn on your notifications so you don’t miss future uploads! https://www.youtube.com/UNPACKED?sub_confirmation=1 Recommended video – The W@r Israel Wasn’t Supposed to Survive https://youtu.be/F4GGpOxJW7I?si=FO8_1VH0s9RM3W7T We have merch! – http://shop.Unpacked.media/?utm_medium=youtube&utm_source… Let’s connect: Website — https://www.Unpacked.media Instagram — /unpackedmedia Twitter — /unpackedmedia TikTok — /unpackedmedia Facebook — /unpackedmedia ----------- Image and footage credits: Ammunition Hill Memorial Site & Museum IDF The national memorial project ‘Yizkor,’ prepared by the Ministry of Defense Eran Lior Map Collection, The National Library of Israel Israeli Government Press Office: David Eldan ----------- Executive Producers: Michael Steinhardt Co-Executive Producers: Marc Shmuel Levine Iris & Shalom Maidenbaum Gold Level: The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life ----------- Translation credits: Portuguese: Saymon Pires About Explainers: From ancient Jewish traditions to the modern State of Israel, we explain it all. Diving into anything and everything related to Jewish culture, history, and even religion. Understand Jewish holidays, Israeli politics, Jewish diasporic communities, and more. Learn about Judaism in pop culture, debunking myths about Jews, and explore obscure Israeli landmarks. We’re asking questions as basic as “What is the Talmud?”, and as obscure as “How did hip-hop boost Kosher wine sales?”, and everything in between. About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking. #israel #history #jerusalem