 From a military point of view , the 10th Harel Brigade required reinforcements and Ben @-@ Gurion dispatched a battalion of the 6th Etzioni Brigade . He considered it imperative that the 7th Brigade join the forces in Jerusalem as well as a contingent of 400 new recruits to reinforce the Harel Brigade . Weapons and spare parts that had arrived in Israel by air were also now ready for combat on the Jerusalem front . The commander of the 7th Brigade wished to neutralize the negative effects of the debacle on the morale of the troops and on his prestige . The central front was reorganized and its command given to an American volunteer fighting on the Israeli side , Colonel David Marcus , who was subsequently appointed Aluf ( Major General ) . He took command of the Etzioni and 7th Brigades , and the 10th Palmach Harel Brigade . 
