Israel and Jordan Blame Each Other for Jerusalem Flare-up

Two resolutions, one blaming Jordan for the recent three-day “small war” in Jerusalem, and the other putting the blame on Israel, were placed before the Israel-Jordan Mixed Armistice Commission today when it resumed discussion on the Jerusalem flare-up.

The resolution holding Jordan responsible was introduced by Israel, while the resolution blaming Israel was proffered by Jordan. After five hours of discussion, the meeting was adjourned until Thursday when it will vote on both resolutions. Gen. Vagn Bennike, head of the United Nations truce supervision organization in Palestine, chaired the meeting.

The Israel resolution, offered by Col. Mordecai Shalev, stated that the Jordanians had started the shooting across the lines in Jerusalem and had violated the ceasefire. For this, Israel demanded, Jordan should be condemned in the strongest possible terms and the Arab state should be called upon to abide by the obligations imposed on it in the armistice agreement.

Dr. I. Haikal, the Jordanian representative, who presented the Arab case made of it a political expose rather than a presentation of facts and announced that Jordan was willing to accept the program outlined by Gen Bennike yesterday. At the same time, Dr. Haikal suggested that inhabitants of a number of houses on both sides of the border be removed; that both sides undertake not to use the Holy Places as military positions; that Israel guarantee that such actions not occur again, and, finally that the MAC declare Israel responsible for the incident.

(In London today, the British Government backed UN truce supervisor Gen. Bennike in his call yesterday to Israel and Jerusalem to preserve Jerusalem with its Holy Places and its cultural institutions. Reply in writing to a question by an M.P., Selwyn Lloyd, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, declared that the British Government wishes to associate itself “most sincerely” with Gen. Bennike’s words.)