Asked about the reliability of reports that Israel and Transjordan are negotiating a five-year non-aggression pact, a spokesman for the Israel Government today said:
“There is contact between both countries. However, the public must be warned against reports which appeared in the press and are based on imagination, false rumors and information from unauthorized sources.”
The spokesman denied that the extraordinary meeting of the Israel Cabinet was summoned because of the imminent signing of a treaty between Israel and Transjordan. “It is incorrect that the urgent Cabinet session yesterday was called specifically to discuss the question of relations with Transjordan,” he stated. “This session had its own agenda and the urgency arose from the fact that the Premier is going on leave.”
Despite the government’s denial, however, the Hebrew press today continued to publish reports of the progress of Israel-Transjordan negotiations. The reports stated that at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting the signing of a non-aggression pact was approved in principle, and that Transjordan’s King Abdullah was so informed.
Premier David Ben Gurion left today on a three weeks’ leave. During this period, Finance Minister Eliezer Kaplan will replace him as Acting Premier, while Deputy Defense Minister I. Avigdor will act as Defense Minister. Mr. Ben Gurion was due to leave two weeks ago, but postponed his rest because of urgent matters of state.
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.
