An official communique released here today said that the Israeli Government has replied to the Security Council’s order to withdraw from the Negev and begin armistice talks. The government’s reply was forwarded to the United Nations through Dr. Paul Molm, U.N. liaison official.
The announcement said that Israel accepted the U.N. ‘s order to begin armistice talks, which it hopes will lead to peace “and establish that that peace will secure good neighborliness, the pursuit of which has been the aim of the state of Israel since the beginning of this unhappy conflict.”
At the same time, the government announced that it has withdrawn the bulk of its forces from the Negev, leaving behind only garrisons of mobile units which were in the southern desert area before October 14. The announcement added that Israel is prepared to evacuate the coastal belt as for north as Suneid, three miles north of Gaza, on condition that security measures are satisfactory. Israeli troops will, however, remain in Beersheba to protect the native Arab population and to ensure that the road to Jerusalem will not be used by the Arabs, the announcement said.
The communique added that the Israeli Government is awaiting notification from the acting U.N. Palestine mediator as to when and where armistice talks with the Arab representatives will start. Col. Yigal Yadin, Chief of Operations, and Reuven Shiloah, Foreign Ministry official, were named as Israel’s official representatives to these talks.
(A dispatch from Paris indicated that the Israeli reply cited a contradiction in the acting mediator’s plan to set up a large neutral zone in the Negev and the Egyptian Army’s decision to remain in the Bit Ashluj area and retain control of the road between Rafa and Bir Ashluj. The Israeli Government reserved the right to make representations against this decision when the matter comes up for discussion at future armistice talks.)
A conference to discuss means of assisting and rescuing Jews now living in Arab countries was opened in Jerusalem last night by the Jewish Agency’s department for Oriental Jews. Chief Rabbi David Prato of Rome, Israeli Minister for Minorities Behar Sheetreet and representatives of Jews from various Oriental countries attended.
Menachem Beigin, former head of the Irgun Zvai Leumi, and several other members of the Irgun-sponsored Freedom Movement today left Israel for the United States where they will present the new party’s platform and raise money for it.
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