Israel’s Foreign Minister, Mrs. Golda Meir, left Israel today for the United States where, according to newspaper reports, she will present to the United Nations General Assembly an overall plan for solving Arab-Israel issues. Mrs. Meir, who will arrive in New York tomorrow, was seen off at the airport by United States Ambassador Edward B. Lawson, French Ambassador Pierre Gilbert and other diplomats.
Meanwhile, Israel was consolidating its position in the Gaza Strip and in the port of Elath which, as a result of the Sinai campaign, has been opened to traffic from the Red Sea. The first train from Israel territory to Gaza was scheduled to arrive today. Railroad gangs, augmented by local Arabs hired for this job, have been working around the clock to replace several miles of railroad track torn up after the war of 1948 when the Egyptians took over the strip. When this is completed the line will run down the coast from Haifa to El Arish.
Zim Navigation Company, Israel’s largest maritime corporation announced today its decision to open an office in Elath. Zvi Herman, company representative, announced that a special staff will shortly proceed to the port city to set up the branch office, He revealed that during the recent emergency, Israeli shipping maintained its full schedules for cargo and passenger service, although foreign ships cancelled their calls in Israel.
The day’s peaceful developments were marred today when a border policeman was killed and four others wounded when they raced to the protection of a tractor driver attacked by fedayeen near Gonen, in Upper Galilee. The car in which they were struck and detonated a landmine. Other fedayeen attacks resulted in the blasting of water lines and pumps, but no casualties were reported.
At El Arish, Sinai crossroads village, the local Arab inhabitants today appealed to the Israel authorities not to withdraw. They fear that the Arab refugees in the area will riot loot and massacre local inhabitants. Israeli authorities have brought in food for all the people in the area and set up an emergency clinic to provide medical service. Doctors and other professionals fled with the retreating Egyptian army.
Syrian Army units were seen today patrolling the walls of the Old City, in Jordan-held Jerusalem. The bulk of the Syrian troops which have poured into Jordan in the last two weeks are garrisoned at Nablus.
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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.
