A “leading Arab state” has put out peace feelers to Israel, it was learned here today from a most reliable source.
This source reported that a prominent Palestine Arab, a political opponent of the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem, has been in Tel Aviv discussing peace proposals with high Israeli leaders since last Thursday night. In these talks the “Arab proposed that Jerusalem be internationalized and that Haifa be made a free port. These proposals, the emissary said, are the main basis on which a solution can be reached.
Other informed Jewish circles reported the discovery of a plot by the ex-Muftis to have King Abdullah of Trans Jordan, the Mufti’s chief political opponent, assassinated while the latter is in Cairo visiting King Farouk. Although most of the details are not yet public, these sources assert that there is enough evidence to substantiate the existence of the plot.
The anti-Mufti representative was amazed at the fact that Tel Aviv was not damaged to any great extant by the Egyptian air raids, as had been reported by Arab propagandists. He was particularly vehement in his condemnation of the Mufti, referring to him as a “war monger.” During his three-day stay in Israel, he also toured Jaffa.
The Israeli Cabinet held a special meeting this morning to consider the Egyptian violation of the truce, it was learned here today. Some of the members, headed by Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok, are said to have held out for a delay in seeking a showdown with the Egyptians, pending Count Folke Bernadette’s visit to Cairo to investigate the Arab actions Another faction in the Cabinet demanded immediate action, on the basis that the U. N. ‘s chief observer and personal assistant to Bernadette, Col. Thord Bends, told Premier Ben Gurion, after the Egyptian attacks on the settlements, that the Jews have full “freedom of action” in relation to the southern front. The final decision, if any was reached today, is still not known.
The Israeli radio yesterday broadcast the details of the latest Egyptian attack on Kfar Darom, fourth Jewish settlement in southern Palestine to be raided by the Egyptians since the Jews, with the permission of the mediator’s staff, last week attempted to supply the Jewish settlements cut off behind the Egyptian lines. The Arabs launched a full-scale land offensive, supported by artillery and tanks.
IRGUNISTS ORDERED TO REJOIN ISRAEL ARMY; ARRESTED DISSIDENTS FREED
The Irgun leadership this week-end ordered its members who deserted the Israeli army during and since last week’s clash between the dissidents and government troops over the landing of war materiel to defiance of the U.N. truce, to rejoin the army in view of the serious situation in reference to Arab violations of the truce. Simultaneously. the government released some 70 Irgun and pro-Irgun Revisionist leaders who were arrested at the height of the disturbances in Tel Aviv.
Yesterday the Florentine quarter, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, was placed under curfew for two-and-a-half hours; while government troops searched for Irgunists war stores. Three young Jews, two brothers and a sister, were arrested and a quantity of ammunition was seized. It is reported in some circles that as many as 250 Irgunists have been detained in the campaign to round up Illegal arms.
Tomorrow the first Israeli “army day” will be celebrated with a huge parade through the main, streets of Tel Aviv. During the ceremony all troops will take an oath of allegiance to the Israel Defense Army, which came into being after the invasion of the territory of Palestine by six Arab states last month. The Chief Rabbinate has composed a special prayer to be recited on Saturdays “and holidays after the reading of the Scroll. Special services will be held tomorrow for the 2,000 Jewish soldiers who have been killed since last November 29.
Several new violations of the cease-fire have been reported in the vicinity of Haifa and Nathanya by small bands of Arabs. In the Latrun area, Jewish troops were fired on several times after the Egyptian violations were reported. Last night Arab guerrillas cams down from the hills surrounding Mesra, near Nazareth, and fired the wheat fields, causing extensive damage.
MEIRSON TO REPRESENT ISRAEL IN MOSCOW; U.S.S.R. NAMES LEGATION HEAD
Goldie Meirson, one-time political chief of the Jerusalem section of the Jewish
A special plane left Tel Aviv yesterday with the body of Col. David Marous, American Jewish military commander of the Jerusalem area, who was killed just before the truce went into effect two week ago. Two Israeli officers are accompanying the body to the U.S. where they will represent their government, at the funeral at that Point.
In Jerusalem, which Ben Gurion left yesterday after a day of conference with Jewish leaders, the U.N. has finally established that the Jewish water supply installations at Arab-held Rae el Ein are practically intact. However, since the Arabs insist on making the minor repairs themselves, the water supply situation has not improved materially and each inhabitant of the Jewish area of Jerusalem is limited to two-and-a-half gallous of water daily, for all uses.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
