Fighting Between Israeli and Egyptian Armies Resumed; Blackout Reimposed in Israel

Fighting has been resumed between the Israeli and Egyptian armies in the Negev, an official communique announced today. As a result, a black-out will be reimposed all over Israel beginning tonight.

The communique said that land and air clashes took place during the night and all day today in an area northwest of the Jewish settlement of Nirim. Armored forces were used and the Egyptians dropped several bombs not far from Nirim, but did not cause serious damage.

An Israeli military spokesman denied an Egyptian report that a Jewish plans was shot down in the battle. “Steps have been taken to prevent renewed Egyptian sabotage of the water pipelines in the southern Negev,” the spokesman said.

(Reuters reported that a War Ministry spokesman in Egypt said that Israeli planes have raided Egyptian positions in Palestine. “Anti-aircraft batteries opened fire and the Faluja garrison shot down one plane,” the report stated. Faluja is an Egyptian pocket in the Jewish-held Negev area.)

An official Israeli announcement issued at the end of the day said that fighting continued on a smaller scale during the afternoon with both sides dropping bombs from planes. United Nations observers have been advised of the resumption of hostilities around Nirim.

ISRAEL RESERVES “FREEDOM OF ACTION” REGARDING EGYPT; NOTIFIES U.N.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Government has notified Gen. William Riley, U.N. chief of staff in Palestine, that in view of the fact that Egypt has not indicated any desire to start armistice talks, Israel reserves for itself freedom of action. The Israeli communication was sent to Gen. Riley following a meeting of the Israeli Cabinet, which lasted late into the night. The text of the communication reads:

“For the past two weeks the Israeli Government has been watching with great concern the steady deterioration of prospects for peace with Egypt. Following a visit to the Middle East early in December by U.N. mediator Ralph J. Bunche who felt that there was a good chance to secure agreement on the part of the Egyptian Government for the initiation of armistice talks in accordance with the resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council, the Government of Israel was prepared, as a taken of good will, to order that a start be made in the evacuation of the Egyptian forces stationed at Faluja.

“Communication to this effect was made to Bunche on Dec. 9. Now the Israeli Government understands that the Government of Egypt changed its mind and is not willing to take any practical steps in the direction of peace. Egypt appears to be pinning itself to a single clause in the Security Council resolution in order to undo the main purpose which the Council had in mind, namely the conclusion of an armistice as a first step towards peace.

“As the Egyptian Government has done nothing to indicate its desire to achieve a peaceful settlement, the Government of Israel feels bound to reserve its freedom of action with a view to defending its territory and hastening the conclusion of the war.”

BEN GURION ISSUES CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO CHRISTIANS IN ISRAEL

Premier David Ben Gurion today sent a Christmas message to the Christian population in Israel declaring: “The past year has been one of battle and hardship forced upon us by those who spurned international obligations and chose the sword as arbiter of the country’s future. However, their evil design was frustrated.”

The message of the Israeli Premier concluded by emphasizing that the Israeli Government prays fervently that peace for all citizens will soon be realized “so that men and women of all creeds in Israel should soon be able to dedicate themselves in wholehearted unity to the constructive tasks of peace.”