During the Jewish insurgency in Palestine , he took part in anti-British operations . In April 1946 , he participated in a major operation to sabotage the railway network in southern Palestine , and was severely wounded in the arm . While recuperating from his injury , which prevented him from using a gun , he worked in the Irgun 's propaganda department , where he was director of its foreign press section . In 1947 , he was transferred to Jerusalem , and served as a commander during the 1947-1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine . Initially , his role was to train new recruits . His most notable action during this period was taking part in a joint Irgun-Lehi attack on the Arab village of Deir Yassin , it what would later become known as the Deir Yassin massacre . After Benzion Cohen , the overall Irgun commander of the operation , was wounded , he took charge of the Irgun force and led it through most of the fighting . During the Israeli War of Independence , he served as a company commander , and took part in fighting at Ramat Rachel and in Operation Kedem , during which he led a unit that was part of the final Israeli attempt to capture Jerusalem 's Old City during the war . His force successfully broke through the New Gate and into the Old City , where his attack bogged down , while other Israeli forces failed to reach their objectives , and Israeli commanders ordered a general retreat due to an imminent cease-fire about to come into effect . He also led the establishment of the agricultural training farm at Shuni Fortress
Deir Yassin massacre
Deir Yassin massacre
Yehuda Lapidot