Reflect for a moment. Ammunition Hill stands as a testament to a pivotal battle during the Six-Day War. This was no ordinary hill. It was a fortified Jordanian military post. It stood in the northern part of Jordanian-ruled East Jerusalem. It also sat on the western slope of Mount Scopus.
Ammunition Hill is now a national memorial site. But its history stretches back further. The British built the site in the 1930s during their Mandatory Palestine. It served as a storage for the police academy’s ammunition. Hence, the name Ammunition Hill.
In 1948, during the Arab-Israeli War, the Jordanian Arab Legion seized control. This severed the link between Mount Scopus and West Jerusalem. After the 1949 Armistice Agreements, Mount Scopus became an Israeli enclave. Jordanians blocked access to Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University.
The post itself consisted of bunkers and trench systems. Fortified gun emplacements covered each trench. The Jordanian defenders lived in a large underground bunker. In 1967, a reinforced Jordanian company of 150 soldiers defended Ammunition Hill.
The Israeli Jerusalem Command decided against an aerial attack. They feared hitting civilian areas. Instead, they planned an artillery barrage on the police post. This would be followed by a ground attack.
Israeli intelligence underestimated the Jordanian forces. They believed a single platoon defended the hill. But the police academy was empty. The Jordanian troops had taken shelter in the hill’s bunker system. This made the defending force equal in size to the assault force.
The battle for Ammunition Hill began on June 6, 1967, at 2:30 AM. The Israeli 3rd Company of the 66th Battalion led the attack. The fighting lasted until 6:30 AM. However, Israeli troops remained in the trenches. Sniper fire came from Givat HaMivtar. 36 Israeli soldiers and 71 Jordanians died in the battle.
Ten Israeli soldiers received citations for their bravery. Mordechai Gur commanded the Paratroopers Brigade. Yossi Yafe commanded the 66th Battalion.
In 1975, a memorial site and museum opened on Ammunition Hill. A part of the old post was preserved. The museum was built in the bunker. 182 olive trees were planted. Each tree commemorated an Israeli soldier who died in the battle for Jerusalem. In 1987, the site became a national memorial site. Jerusalem Day ceremonies are held here.
In 2019, Israel honored Lieutenant General J. F. R. Jacob of the Indian Army. They placed a commemorative plaque on the Ammunition Hill Wall of Honour. About 200,000 people visit the site each year. Ammunition Hill is also the main induction center for IDF paratroopers.
Today, you can explore Ammunition Hill. You can walk through the trenches. You can also visit the museum. There is a video presentation and exhibits. These recount the personal and national stories of the battle. You will see the memorial for the fallen soldiers. You can also see historic tanks. A 3D model shows Jerusalem as it was in 1967. From the hilltop, you get panoramic views of Jerusalem.