Israel today denied Jordanian allegations that it forced members of the Bedouin tribe off Nuwaseirat to cross to the East Bank of the River Jordan. In a letter to Secretary-General Thant, Ambassador Shabtai Rosenne, Israel’s acting permanent representative here, termed these allegations “false.”
This tribe, the letter said, was located on the West Bank, near the Jordan River, in the Jericho area, where there have been frequent illegal infiltrations across the river, and terrorist activities by persons penetrating from Jordan territory on the East Bank.
For security reasons it became necessary to proclaim the area restricted, Dr. Rosenne stated. In their desire to alleviate unnecessary suffering, he said, the Israeli authorities approached the chief of the tribe and proposed an agreed relocation elsewhere. A new site for the encampment was agreed upon while maintaining access to the former grazing grounds. At the same time, approximately 150 members of the tribe voluntarily chose to cross to the East Bank, and written declarations of this willingness were signed by these persons at the Allenby Bridge.
The Bedouins who crossed to the East Bank were accepted without any reservations by the Jordanian authorities who awaited them a few yards away. Dr. Rosenne stated, the crossing was openly and freely conducted, and there was no coercion whatever.
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.
