Attacks by armed Arab gangs on Jewish settlements in the Negev were climaxed during the week-end when Nir Am, Tkuma, Beerot Yitzhak, Sand Hefraz Mifalsim and Dorot were compelled to “shoot it out” with the bandits, it was disclosed today. In all cases, the Arabs were thought to have infiltrated from the Gaza area. Six Arabs were killed in the various engagements, and no Jewish casualties were reported.
The heaviest attack was on Tkuma, northeast of Beersheba, where attackers armed with Sten guns and tommy guns feigned a diversionary assault in the North, then advanced on the South. They were driven off by a determined counter-attack, but managed to steal clothes from a store. At Nir Am, two horses and two mules were stolen. In the other kibbutzim the attackers were repelled before they were able to take any thing. At Sand, three Arabs were captured and identified as coming from the Gaza strip.
Arab infiltrees also attacked the village of Zacharia, near Beith Jubrin, and robbed the inhabitants of food and livestock and kidnapped two Arab children. The Israel police pursued the marauders to the border.
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