Premier David Ben Gurion, in his capacity as Defense Minister, today proclaimed that the Syrian-Israeli border area in the Huleh and Lake Tiberias section a “security zone,” it was announced in the Official Gazatte. Under the law, the Minister or his deputies may order any inhabitant of a security zone to leave within 14 days of receipt of such notice.
The proclamation was published as an Israeli police patrol in the demilitarized zone again came under fire from Syrian units. An official spokesman placed the scene of today’s shooting in the vicinity of Ein Gev, on the southeastern extremity of Lake Tiberias. He reported no casualties, but said that the patrol was still under sporadic rifle fire. He denied that it was cut off, adding that it had full independence of movement and could advance, withdraw or remain in position, as it chose, However, he said that United Nations observers could not approach the scene, because of the shooting.
Earlier, it was revealed that the Israel Government had reported the latest incident to Col. Bonnet de Riddor, Acting United Nations Truce Chief, who was conferring today with Col. Shaul Ramati, chief Israeli delegate on the Israeli-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission. The parley, held at Ras el Nakura, on the Israeli-Lebanese border, was called by Col. de Bonnet in an attempt to revive the armistice body which has not functioned since the invasion of Israel territory by Syrian troops, who killed seven Israeli policemen in their incursion.
Dr. Walter Eytan, director of Israel’s Foreign Office, today reported to the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee of Parliament on the latest developments in the Israeli-Syrian conflict. Meanwhile, a government spokesman denied that Israel had received a “srongly-worded warning” from the United States, Britain and France. All that Israel could expect, he said, was an expression of “concern” by the Three Powers over the recent events on the Israeli-Syrian frontier, which undoubtedly constituted a serious threat to peace.
Infiltration from the Lebanon into Israel territory has virtually ceased as a result of the close cooperation between representatives of the two countries, it was reported today at a meeting of the Israel-Lebanon Mixed Armistice Commission. The meeting disposed of questions on the agenda and made arrangements for the return to Israel territory of some Armenian families who had sought sanctuary in the Lebanon during the Palestine fighting.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
