The Israeli Government today agreed to issue a cease fire order in the Negev to be followed immediately by negotiations between Egypt and Israel for implementation of both the Security Council resolutions for withdrawal in the Negev and establishment of an armistice.
Israel’s agreement followed transmission through the U.N. of a message from Egypt to the effect that “if Israel orders a cease-fire the Egyptian Government would agree to enter negotiations concerning implementation of the November 4 and 16 resolutions of the Security Council.”
The effective time of the cease-fire, however, is still to be set. Henry Vigiers, personal representative of the acting mediator, suggested that it become Effective at exactly 4 P.M. local time. Israel agreed, but only on condition that it receive official notice of Egypt’s acceptance in time to order Israeli troops in the field to stop their fire by 4 P.M. Vigiers immediately notified the Egyptians, but their answer did not arrive in time and Vigiers will have to arrange a new time for cease-fire to take effect.
Commenting on the expected negotiations, an Israeli spokesman said: “We shall not restrict the negotiations to the two Security Council resolutions. We hope they (the negotiations) will lead to peace.”
FIGHTING REPORTED FROM CENTRAL FRONT; BOMBS PROPPED NEAR TEL AVIV
Meanwhile, it was learned here today that Iraq has sent a strong note to King, Abdullah of Trans Jordan demanding that it be included in any peace negotiations with Israel, and reminding him that it is responsible for the central front, on which are stationed a considerable number of Iraqi troops. At the same time, the Iraqi authorities have ordered the commander in the Nablus-Jenin-Tulkarm “triangle” area, where the greatest number of Iraqi troops are stationed, to sever all relations with the Arab Legion of Trans Jordan.
From the central front it was reported that an exchange of mortar and cannon fire occurred yesterday in the area of Kfar Saba. Last night enemy planes dropped eight bombs over a township south of Tel Aviv. Jerusalem had a two-hour air alert last night when a number of planes approached from the southwest and circled over the city. They dropped no bombs, however.
Hundreds of Egyptian troops were killed or wounded when Israeli forces blasted an Egyptian troop train which was proceeding northward from Rafah to Gaza, an Israeli spokesman announced here today. He added that the rail line will remain out for a number of days. He also disclosed that the Jews shot down two Egyptian fighter planes and destroyed large quantities of war materiel and many armored vehicles in the last few days of fighting in the Negev. He said that the Israelis evacuated the Abu Augeyla area of the Negev in a movement which began Friday and ended Sunday.
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