 Lajjun was allotted to the Arab state in the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan . The village was defended by the Arab Liberation Army ( ALA ) . It was first assaulted by the Haganah on April 13 , during the battle around kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek . ALA commander Fawzi al @-@ Qawuqji claimed Jewish forces ( " Haganah " ) had attempted to reach the crossroads at Lajjun in an outflanking operation , but the attack failed . The New York Times reported that twelve Arabs were killed and fifteen wounded during that Haganah offensive . Palmach units of the Haganah raided and blew up most of Lajjun on the night of April 15 – 16 . 
