The Cabinet of Israel heard a special report by Premier David Ben Gurion today on the deteriorating situation along the Syrian border as Israeli tanks were called into action to halt the latest Syrian attacks on Israeli civilian workers on Israeli territory. At the same time, Israel complained to the Israeli-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission. Two Israelis were wounded today.
The fighting began early this morning when Syrian troops entrenched on the other side of the border opened fire on Israelis in the field of Israeli territory adjoining, but not in the demilitarized zone, which is also Israeli territory. The work involves the drainage of the Huleh swamp.
The Israeli military escort returned the fire and the Syrians subsided. The quiet lasted for a short while and was broken again by Syrian fire, this time from automatic weapons and was directed at the workers. This time Israeli tanks replied, sweeping Syrian pillboxes with shells. The Syrians then used mortars against the workers, their escort and a small settlement in the area.
Finally, United Nations observers in the region prevailed on both sides to quit firing and a formal ceasefire agreement went into effect at 2:30 in the afternoon. Syrian casualties were seen being evacuated subsequently.
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.
