A spokesman for the Israeli delegation to the United Nations emphatically denied tonight that Israeli forces had crossed the Transjordan frontier as reported today in dispatches from Amman, the Transjordan capital.
“Nowhere in the Negev are Israeli land or air forces operating outside the borders of Israel,” the delegation statement declared. “They have not crossed, nor have they any intention of crossing the Trans Jordan frontier at any time.
“On the other hand, dispatches from official Transjordan sources in Amman imply that the Transjordan forces have established positions illegally on Israel’s territory. This fact alone.” the statement concluded, “is responsible for any tension which may have arisen.”
The delegation’s statement was issued following receipt of Amman reports that Israeli forces were fighting toward Akaba, a town situated at the tip of the Gulf of Akaba, near the junction of Transjordan territory and the southern Palestine territory assigned to the state of Israel under the United Nations partition plan.
A British force is stationed at Akaba. British War Minister Emanuel Shinwell confirmed the presence of this force yesterday in the House of Commons but denied it was preparing permanent installations there. Britain and Trans Jordan are linked by a defense treaty.
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