Summary
Leader of the Druze battalion in the Arab Liberation Army whose decision to stop fighting the Jews and withdraw at Husha and al-Kasayir, in agreement with the Zionist side, Manna calls an important juncture in the war in the Galilee (Nakba and Survival, PDF p.60).
Details
- At the battle of Husha and al-Kasayir, southwest of Shafa ‘Amr, in which dozens of fighters from both sides were killed, the more significant result was the Arab battalion of Druze fighters under Wahhab stopping the fight and withdrawing in agreement with the Zionist side (Nakba and Survival, PDF p.60).
- Before the occupation of lower Galilee, the Israeli side concluded an agreement with Wahhab and some local Druze leaders under which the Druze withdrew from the battle against the Jews and Israel guaranteed all their villages protection from harm; the first practical test was Shafa ‘Amr, whose inhabitants did not suffer maltreatment and expulsion (Nakba and Survival, PDF p.70).
- Under the secret agreement implemented at Shafa ‘Amr in July 1948, most of the fighters in the Arab battalion returned to their homes in Syria and Lebanon, while dozens joined the Israeli side in the war (Nakba and Survival, PDF p.68).