Mishlat 21 and Shaar Haggai

Mishlat 21 is a strategic military outpost that gives a wonderful view over the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway far below (Shaar Haggai). It used to be a crucial point in the battles of the War of Independence. When Jerusalem was besieged (from December 1, 1947 to July 10, 1948) the 100,000 Jewish residents of the city suffered severe shortage of food and water; and the Jewish army was cut short of ammunition and reinforcements for defending Jerusalem. It all began when the Arab forces tried to cut off the main road to Jerusalem which is known as Shaar Haggai today. The Arabs also cut off the water pipe to Jerusalem. The road nowadays part of modern Highway 1, passed through Bab al-Wad, a narrow valley surrounded by Arab villages on hills on both sides.