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Shertok, Says British Are Pledged Not to Cross into Israeli Territory in Aqaba Area

March 6, 1949
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Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok, at his weekly stress conference today, reiterated the statement that the British had undertaken, is-a-vis Israel, not to cross into territory assigned to Israel where it touches Trans Jordan at the Gulf of Aqaba.

The Israelis do not intend to enter Trans Jordanian territory, he said, adding, yet recurrent propaganda on the subject emanating from Amman makes us think it may perhaps be the other way round. If this proves to be true, Israel would not hesitate to bring the problem before the United Nations Security Council.”

Shertok revealed that the Israeli delegation at Rhodes had strongly protested to Dr. Bunche against recent incursions around the Arab triangle–Nablus-Jenin-Tulkarm–despite repeated warnings to the Arabs that Israel would not sit back with folded arms if the acts continued. The question whether the triangle would be considered in the talks with Transjordan was still under consideration at Rhodes, he said.

The western fringe of the Arab triangle is held by Iraqi troops although the Transjordan delegation at Rhodes claims to represent the area for armistice talks. Armed cattle thefts and the killing of Jewish settlers in the Ramath Hakovesh and Benyamina areas wore reported during the week and were followed by a stiff warning by the Israeli Army authorities that “action would be taken.”

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