A plane bearing Transjordan markings was today forced down by Israel fighter planes along the southern part of the Jewish state, it was officially announced by the military authorities here.
The plane landed undamaged at an Israel airfield and all its six occupants were safe. The pilot were a Royal Air Force insignia. It is understood that among the occupants were one American and one British civilian. The plane is being held and the crew is being interrogated.
An Israel military spokesman said that for several months Israel has been continuously protesting, through the mixed armistice commission, against violations of its territory by Transjordan aircraft. The last warning was given to Transjordan on May 8, he stated.
The frontier incidents which have been taking place on the Israel-Transjordan border during the last few days have in no way influenced the negotiations for a non-aggression pact between Israel and Transjordan, it was indicated here today. They are reported to be continuing “on a fairly high level.”
King Abdullah’s personal secretary, Abdul Charan Carmi, crosses the demarcation line regularly into the Israel section of Jerusalem where he confers with officials of the Israel Foreign Office, it was revealed here today. His visits are no longer kept a secret and he is being taken to lunch in leading restaurants of the Jewish section of the city by Israeli officials.
Several new raids by Arab infiltrees from the Transjordan-held “triangle” area and Jerusalem suburbs were reported here yesterday.
ISRAEL REFUSES TO EVACUATE HILL IN GULF OF AQABA AREA; NOTIFIES U.N.
An Israel Government representative today handed U.N. Chief of Staff Gen. William E. Riley a note refusing to evacuate Bir Qattar, a hill in the southern Negev dominating Israel territory in the Gulf of Aqaba area.
Evacuation has been sought persistently by the Egyptians for the past few months. Last week, they formally complained to Gen. Riley that the Israel occupation of Bir Qattar violated the Israel-Egyptian armistice agreement, because the hill is in a strip of territory in which, they say, only defense forces may be maintained. The Israelis interpret the pact as giving then the right to maintain in the Bir Qatter area regular military forces.
Andrew Cordier, executive assistant to U.N. Secretary-General Trygve Lie, is expected to arrive in Jerusalem today from Athens to discuss certain changes in U.N. personnel. A number of U.N. observers have been serving here for a long time and have expressed a desire to return home.
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