 During the confusion of the last days of the British Mandate and with the " entry in war " of the Arab armies , the position at Latrun changed hands without combat . Firstly , around 14 – 15 May , an order was given to Fawzi al @-@ Qawuqji and his Arab Liberation Army to withdraw and to leave the place to the Arab Legion . According to Yoav Gelber , this departure occurred before the arrival of the Jordanian troops at Latrun and the position was held by just 200 irregulars . Benny Morris nevertheless points out that a platoon of legionnaires of the 11th Company along with irregulars was there and took over the fort . 
