Israel’s voluntary “arms for defense” campaign reached 6.5 million Israel pounds ($3.6 million) today as increased tension was reported along the northern Syrian frontier.
The arms for defense campaign which began spontaneously immediately after Premier Moshe Sharett’s appeal last week to Jews throughout the world to aid beleagured Israel, swept across the country in a wave of public fervor and enthusiasm. In addition to cash, many people donated jewelry, prized personal possessions and even wedding rings.
Military authorities announced today that the settlement of Ein Geb on the eastern bank of the Sea of Galillee had come under heavy Syrian fire but that there were no casualties.
The Israel authorities today, through the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission, notified Syria of the names of the five Syrian soldiers taken prisoner yesterday near Aalmine. The Israelis notified Syria that the prisoners would be accorded prisoner of war treatment in accordance with the Geneva Convention. The Israel Foreign Ministry called on the UN Truce Supervision Organization today to resume its investigation and obtain “with all possible urgency,” information from the Syrian authorities about the Israel soldier kidnapped by the Syrians last week.
(UN truce chief Maj. Gen. E. L. M. Burns is scheduled to arrive at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday to confer about the Israel-Arab situation with UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold. He may meet en route with Premier Moshe Sharett in Paris and in New York with Dr. Mahmoud Fawzi, Egyptian Foreign Minister.)
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