during the 1948 arab-israeli war, david shaltiel's etzioni brigade (hagana) failed to capture east jerusalem from the local arab defenders reinforced by a company of the arab legion's 6th battalion during operation kedem. this occurred not because of arab offensive action, which was restrained by orders of john bagot glubb, but because the jewish demolition charge intended for the iron gate was detonated by a stray artillery shell that set the arab wooden barricade in front of the new gate on fire, halting the stern gang, hagana and irgun troops' advance just prior to the ceasefire announcement. subsequently the jordanian occupation administration had the gate sealed off. it was reopened again by the israeli army in 1967 following the capture of east jerusalem during the jordanian campaign.