Operation Nachshon's mission was to break the siege of Jerusalem by opening the Tel-Aviv – Jerusalem road blockaded by the local Arabs and to supply food and weapons to the isolated Jewish community of Jerusalem. According to Tabenkin, two days before the end of Operation Nachshon (on 14 April 1948), the military echelon had decided to capture and destroy all Arab villages along the Tel-Aviv - Jerusalem highway which had been used as a base of operations to intercept Jewish convoys. In contrast, Operation Ha-Har was to open-up the Jerusalem Corridor south of Nahal Sorek, and to rid the area of all pockets of resistance. As Harel Brigade commander, Tabenkin was subordinate to OC Central Command, General Zvi Ayalon, who, in turn, answered to David Ben-Gurion.