Israel-transjordan Armistice Pact Signer on Rhodes; Abdullah Gets “triangle” Area

The Transjordan-Israeli armistice pact was signed here at 7:30 P.M. local time today after one month of extended negotiations. In general, it accepts the military status quo in Palestine, except for several variations in the Negev and “triangle” areas.

The pact, which is not subject to ratification and comes into effect immediately, recognizes Transjordan’s right to take over control of the “triangle” area Jenin-Tulkarm-Nablus. In this area, the implementation of the provisions of the pact dealing with the replacement of Iraqi troops by Transjordanians, the withdrawal to the agreed upon lines and the reduction of forces may take as long as 15 weeks. In general, however, the pact calls for an adjustment of forces within ten days.

The Israelis gain control of the Haifa-Tel Aviv rail lines, except for one point in Tulkarm. In return, they agree to pay the cost of paving 20 kilometers of first class road in Transjordan-held areas. The Jews will also pick up a number of Arab villages in the Dead Sea and Negev areas and will again have control of the potash works in the southern tip of the Dead Sea. The Arab Legion remains in control of Latrun.

Arab residents of any villages taken over by the Israelis may remain there or may choose to leave. If they opt to leave, the Arab villagers will be permitted to take with them their movable property and livestock and will be compensated immediately for the land which they abandon.

FRONT LINE RUNS FROM BEISAN VALLEY, IN NORTH, TO AQABA, IN SOUTH

The present positions in Jerusalem remain unaltered, with the Latrun road still in Arab hands. In the north, the front line commences in the Beisan area, runs westward giving the Gilboa hills to Israel. Then it turns south, running east of the railway line to Tulkarm, giving the Gedera-Afuleh road to Israel. From Tulkarm the line follows the eastern edge of the railway line to Qalqiliya, which remains Arab, and turns eastward to Budrus–nine miles north of Latrun thereafter following the November 30 armistice line to a point south of Jerusalem.

South of Jerusalem the line continues east from Beit Jibrin and south from Hebron to the Dead Sea at En Geddi. The line then joins the international frontier in the center of the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba.

The reduction of forces is understood to Include British troops at Aqaba where a total strength of three battalions is alloted to each side. Jerusalem will be allowed two battalions for either side with another three battalions in the surrounding districts. The “triangle” will contain a total of five battalions, with a similar number of Israelis facing it.

The pact also states that the military forces of both sides shall be limited to defensive forces only in the areas extending ten kilometers on either side of the front line. The only exception to this point is in the southernmost tip of Palestine and the coastal strip where adherence to this principle is physically impossible.

It notes that the general provisions of the pact shall not be Interpreted as prejudicing an ultimate political settlement between the two parties, and that the demarcation lines are also agreed upon without prejudice to future territorial settlements or boundary lines or to the claims of either party relating to boundaries and territorial settlements. Pact Sets Up General Armistice and Special Jerusalem Commissions The pact provides for the establishment of two commissions. One is a general armistice commission composed of seven members headed by a United Nations official. The second will be a special commission to deal with problems relating to the Jerusalem area. The specific problems left to the Jurisdiction of the special commission are:

1. Provision for free movement of traffic on vital roads, including the Bethlehem-Jerusalem and the Latrun-Jerusalem roads.

2. Resumption of the normal functioning of the cultural and humanitarian institutions on Mt. Scopus and free access thereto.

3. Provision for free access to the Holy Places and cultural institutions and use of the cemetery on the Mount of Olives; and,

4. Resumption of operations of the Latrun pumping station, provision of electricity in the Old City of Jerusalem and resumption of operation of the Jaffa-Jerusalem railroad.

The commission will also have competence in other problems which may be submitted to it. In all cases referred to it, the special body shall have exclusive competence, and its decisions shall have the same force and effect as the provisions of the general armistice agreement. The members of the commission will include representatives of both parties without representatives of the United Nations and it shall formulate plans to enlarge the scope of the agreement and to effect improvements in its application.

The armistice commission shall maintain its headquarters at Jerusalem. The mixed armistice commission shall be convened in its first meeting by the U.N. chief of staff of the truce supervision organization not later than one week from today.