Count Folke Bernadotte today addressed an urgent appeal to Israel and the Arab states to accept an unconditional cease-fire for ten days, beginning tomorrow at 8 A.M., New York time. He asked the Jews and Arabs to reply immediately to U.N. headquarters on Rhodes, although he is leaving by plane for Lake Success to make a first-hand report before the Security Council.
Before making his appeal, Bernadotte confirmed that he had secretly conferred with Transjordan King Abdullah in Amman this morning. “We talked privately about many things,” he said.
The Israeli Cabinet met to discuss the mediator’s appeal for a ten-day truce and will undoubtedly accept it, not because the Provisional Government feels that its position is weak or because a week-and-a-half respite will be advantageous to its military position, but rather because the Israelis would like to see the Security Council brand the Arabs as aggressors. This is the reason that the Jews are showing so much good will in the truce negotiations.
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