Arab reports that a group of about 100 Israelis early this morning attacked the Jordanian village of Husan, about three miles from Bethlehem, were denied here today by official Israeli sources.
The Arab reports claimed that Husan was attacked twice and that Arab Legion troops “drove the Israelis off after fierce exchanges with automatic fire and hand grenades in battles lasting two hours.”
(In London it was reported today that Jordan lodged a “strong complaint” with the Mixed Armistice Commission–in which Israel is not participating–for alleged attacks by Israelis on Husan. The report said that United Nations observers and officers of the Arab Legion have proceeded to the scene of the alleged attack.)
The reports from Jordan said that the first attack on Husan was made at midnight with machine guns and hand grenades. Arab National guardsmen, the reports stated, returned the fire but were outnumbered and retreated into the village for reinforcement, after which they succeeded in repulsing the attackers. The second attack, Jordan said, occurred about two hours later and was beaten off after a 45-minute battle. The reports contained no information about casualties.
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.
