The five British officials of the Jerusalem Electricity Corporation who are expected to stand trial soon on charges of encaging in espionage for the Arabs during the Arab-Israeli war were notified ever the week-end that they are being held “on suspicion of passing information of military value to the enemy.” No formal charges have, however, been made against them.
Only a handful of correspondents–most of whom represent British newspapers and press associations–have been permitted to v. it the five detainees, who are being held “somewhere in the Tel Aviv area.” Four of the five detainees served on the Palestine police force and two of them are married to Jewish women.
All of the detainees report that they have no complaints about their treatment at the hands of the Israel Government. They receive ample supplies of food, cigarettes and other amenities. It is expected here that upon the completion of the Inspector-General’s official investigation, the charges against them will be announced.
Despite the fact that most of the Britons are reported to be calm at the prospect of standing trial on charges of espionage against the state of Israel, it is understood here that charges against some of them are “very serious.” Reliable sources indicate that the trial will probably take place early in August. Although most of the evidence to date has been supplied by Irgun circles, there is also some irrefutable evidence against them in the files of the Israeli Army.
ISRAEL, JEWISH NATIONAL COUNCIL NEGOTIATING ON DEPARTMENTS
Meanwhile, it was reported today that negotiations between the Israeli Government and the Jewish National Council for the return of two government departments to the Council are at present under way. The departments in question are the health and welfare of soldiers’ families sections of the government.
The week-end conference of the General Zionist Party of Israel concluded here today without adopting any major decision. A committee comprising 32 members was chosen, however, to elect an executive to determine the group’s future political platform which will be announced at the next meeting of the party in approximately one month.
A Hebrew newspaper here reported today that “the British representative in Haifa, who calls himself the British consul, lodged a protest to the Jewish authorities against the resumption of operations in the Haifa oil refineries.” Commenting editorially on this action, the paper said “we hear the Israel Government does not intend to answer this protest, which was presented in an unofficial manner to our Government, The title of “Jewish authorities’ is not identical with the Israel Government and there is, therefore, no reason to even answer this communication,” the editorial added.
A Lebanese medical mission, which has been caring for Arab wounded in Acre, was today flown to Beirut on an Israeli piano loaned to the International Red Cross for the purpose. The services of the mission are no longer needed and the emergency military hospitals established after the Israeli seizure of the Arab city have been closed. It was announced today that the civil court of Jaffa trill resume sessions tomorrow with a Tel Aviv magistrate on the bench.
Several tons of milk powder arrived in Haifa over the week-end for needy Children in Israel. The consignment was shipped by the New York office of the OSE.
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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.
