Some 20,000 applications were received by Israel authorities by last night from the Arab refugees on Jordan’s east bank of the Jordan River, who want to return to the Israeli-held west bank. Processing of the applications was under way today. The applications are being screened under a Government decision to keep out would-be trouble makers, potential saboteurs and overt resisters.
Radio Amman, operated by the Jordanian Government, said this morning that 150,000 applications have already been filled in, and that the total of refugees wishing to return to the west bank will number 200,000.
At the United Nations it was announced today that Secretary-General U Thant will issue at the end of the week a lengthy report on the humanitarian aspects of the Middle East situation as requested by a Security Council resolution of June 14. The document will combine two reports–one by Mr. Laurence Michelmore, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees, and the other by Nils-Goran Gussing, who was appointed personal representative of the Secretary-General to the Middle East on humanitarian problems. Mr. Gussing is still in the area, and will continue to be there for the time being.
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