 On 28 May , after they took Bayt Susin , the Israelis controlled a narrow corridor between the coastal plain and Jerusalem . But this corridor was not crossed by a road that could have let trucks supply the city . A foot patrol of the Palmach discovered some paths that linked several villages in the hills south of the main road controlled by the Arab Legion . In the night of 29 – 30 May , Jeeps sent into the hills confirmed there was a path suitable for vehicles . The decision was then taken to build a road in the zone . This was given the name of " Burma Road " , referring to the supply road between Burma and China built by the British during World War II . 
