Day 113 of 599 of מלחמת העצמאות MILḤEMET HAʾAẒMAʾUT (War of Independence)

The convoy had delivered its cargo before being attacked near the former Hassa camp. Later accounts identify שלמה Rubinstein ŜLOMO, אברהם אלברט פרחיה AVRAHAM ALBERT FARḤIYA, מאיר Wolfgang פוקורני MEʾIR POKORNY and זלמן שחר ZALMAN ŜAḤAR among the dead. Attack on the convoy returning from ניצנים NIẒANIM. follows the return battle, the family records and the larger, incompatible figures in later newspaper dispatches.^{1 2}

One family awaited a child born after the father's death. The four names carry a consequence that a combined headline cannot explain: a completed delivery could still leave households permanently bereaved.

דוד בן-גוריון DAVID BEN-GURION's diary records a report that thirteen imported vehicles had been unloaded while thirty-seven remained held up pending inspection. It also records a shortage of money for food, transport, equipment and fortifications. These were reported constraints, not a completed purchase-and-delivery ledger.³

The illness of the chief of staff raised the question of a temporary replacement. The diary records disagreement over whom to appoint and insists that party loyalties should not determine command. That discussion shows an organization trying to maintain authority under pressure, not a seamless command system without political disputes.

A visitor urged preparation of postal service, courts and income tax alongside a government and public information apparatus. These were proposals recorded by the diarist. Their appearance in the meeting does not date the opening of a court, collection of a tax or operation of a postal service to 21 March.⁴

The day's evidence joins military supply to public administration. Both required institutions capable of acting beyond declarations, but the surviving entry distinguishes plans from actions already completed.

This is Day 113 of the 599-day civil-date series: 1948-03-21. Its daytime portion maps to י׳ באדר ב׳ ה׳תש״ח 10th 𝑜𝑓 Adar II, AM 5708. After local sunset the Hebrew date changes to י״א באדר ב׳ ה׳תש״ח 11th 𝑜𝑓 Adar II, AM 5708. The daily route does not assign every reported incident to that Hebrew date.

Individual memorials and the convoy history give 21 March; the daytime return battle supports 10 Adar II. The diary is dated 21 March and includes received reports and proposals with their own earlier dates. A 23 March press summary with a 22 March dateline is later reportage of fighting, not a new convoy death date.^{5 6}

• How did the loss on a return journey affect future supply?
• What distinguishes proposals for courts and taxes from services already operating?