Palestine Final Fortress

However, this had not removed the threat of a major German invasion from the north, as the British believed that the Red Army might not hold the line against Nazi Germany.

Even though the defence line in the Soviet Union had been stabilized, the British made a strategic plan for the retreating troops out of Syria to be assembled in the mountainous region between Mount Carmel and the Jordan Rift Valley.

In early 1942, the British declared the Mount Carmel region a closed military area and began massive infrastructure work.

Yishuv leaders discussed plans to defend against genocide of the Jewish population by the German army and by local Nazi supporters, which was expected in the event of British retreat from Palestine.

In late 1942, the threat of invasion from the south was lifted following the Allied victory in the Second Battle of El Alamein and the subsequent German retreat westwards across North Africa.