Israel and Jordan Pledge Each Other to Maintain Border Tranquility

Israel and Jordan promised each other at a meeting of the Israel-Jordan Mixed Armistice Commission last night to make efforts to maintain tranquility on the Israel-Jordan border and to avoid incidents, it was disclosed today.

The meeting was convened to discuss border incident complaints of both countries. Israel listed the murder on Rosh Hashanah of an Israel shepherd by Jordanians and subsequent shooting which prevented removal of the victim’s body until Israel armored vehicles were moved into the area. Jordan complained that Israel had fired on Jordanian armored vehicles.

After both sides expressed intentions of goodwill and Jordan promised to deal with the shepherd’s killers, both sides withdrew their formal complaints.

Meanwhile, Israel officials declined today to comment on a resolution adopted by the Israel-Egyptian Mixed Armistice Commission yesterday–in Israel’s absence–condemning Israel for allegedly forcing some 350 Beduin across the border into the United Arab Republic from the Negev. They emphasized that Israel does not participate in meetings of the Israel-Egyptian MAC and that all resolutions of the MAC are adopted on the basis of Egyptian testimony only and with an Egyptian vote to make a majority.

It was recalled here that several weeks ago the Israel Army spokesman declared that during the investigation by an Israel patrol of the murder of an Israel Army officer in the area, the patrol was fired on by Beduin. The spokesman said that a number of the Beduin fled across the border after an exchange of fire.

Israel had demanded that the Beduin tribe turn over the killers of the officer, after the killer’s identity was learned. One accomplice was handed over to Israel Army authorities but the real murderers escaped and the tribe failed to capture them, it was pointed out.