Egyptian Force Surrounded; Tel Aviv and Rishon L’zion Raided by Arab Bombers

Two Egyptian bombers which today raided Tel Aviv and its northern suburbs were shot down by intercepting Jewish fighters. The Israeli fighter planes, which blasted their way through a curtain of Egyptian Spitfires escorting the twin engined bombers, shot one of the Egyptian planes to bits over the Israeli capital and forced the second down near Rehovoth.

The Arab planes also bombed Rishon L’Zion, south of Tel Aviv. An official Israeli communique charged that the planes deliberately bombed a bus station and caused a heavy loss of life. Enemy planes were also active over other parts of Israel while Jewish planes blasted Nablus.

The Jewish Defense Army today announced that it has captured a number of important points on the approaches to the Arab stronghold of Jenin, in central Palestine. The Jewish forces, which are now within one mile of the anchor point of the Jenin-Nablus-Tulkarm triangle, have occupied several strategic heights above the city.

An Egyptian column driving north from Gaza toward Tel Aviv was today surrounded to Jewish troops in the Ishdud area, in the Negev. While Jewish infantry pressed in on the Egyptians, Israeli forces overhead blasted the Arabs. When the desperate Egyptians attempted to break out of the trap they were hurled back with heavy losses in men, tanks and transport.

FIGHT AROUND JERUSALEM CONTINUES; ARABS SUFFER HEAVY LOSSES

A communique from the Israeli command reveals that a determined Arab Legion attack last night from the Sheikh Jarrach quarter aimed at Meab Shearim quarter of Jerusalem was beaten back with a loss of four Jews killed and three wounded. The Arab casualties are estimated to be very high. The Legion subjected Jewish held Ramath Rachel and Talpioth, both in the southern part of Jerusalem, to heavy fire, while the Jews mined a number of roads leading to Ramallah, north of the city, and Sheikh Jarrach.

The Stern Group has informed the International Red Cross that three of their soldiers were wounded yesterday by shots fried from the YMCA compound, in Jerusalem, within the area controlled by the Red Cross and supposedly demilitarized. The Sternists insisted that unless all Arabs, including employees, were evacuated from the area of the city nominally demilitarized and controlled by the Red Cross, the Sternists would no longer consider Red Cross installations as neutral ground. The warning, however, exempted sick and wounded and installations serving them.

Despite the fact that the hope of the Jerusalem Jews that the cease-fire would take effect immediately was dashed yesterday, they continue to take increased hardships with good humor. Not a single truckload of food has reached them in 45 days and they are digging into previously prepared stocks of tinned food. It vas Lamed today that the rabbi in charge of the Wailing Wall, Itzhak Orenstein, and his wife were killed last week.

U.N. MEDIATOR MEETS WITH SHERTOK; JEWS NOT PERMITTED TO LAND AT HAIFA

Count Folke Bornadotte, U.N. mediator for Palestine, is expected in Haifa tonight to meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok. Shertok is coming by road from Tel Aviv. After the parley Bernadotte is expected to proceed to Beirut for farther conferences with Arab leaders on setting a cease-fire date.

In Jewish circles in Half a it was reported that British commander Gordon H.A. MacMillan has suggested to Bernadotte that British of fleers be attached to the mediator’s staff to check compliance with the Security Council’s cease-fire order. The Jews would oppose such a step most vigorously.

Some 250 Jewish immigrants who arrived not permitted to disembark in the lifters. It was reported reliably that the British evacuation is at present (scheduled to be completed by the 27th of the month. Gen. MacMillan has announced that the last 12 prisoners held by the British in Palestine will be released when the evacuation is completed.