معركة الكرامة
In March 1968, Gonen oversaw the armored corps in the Battle of Karameh in Jordan, where Yasser Arafat and the PLO had their base. A few armored vehicles were left on the scene and used by the PLO for propaganda. He continued to rise through the ranks, and on 15 July 1973, he replaced Ariel Sharon as Chief of the Southern Command.