Israel warned Jordan today, through the United Nations truce supervision organization, that the Arab state cannot evade responsibility for the renewed tension along the Israel–Jordan border resulting from a series of incidents which started early last week and continued through this week-end.
The warning was given to aides of Gen, E. L. M. Burns, UN truce supervisor, who were invited to the Foreign Office. It was pointed out to them that the extended aroid of quiet along the borders before this latest outbreak proved that the Jordan authorities were able-if they wished-to prevent attacks from Jordan territory against Israel. The fact was stressed that Israel was concerned with the outbreak of violence, started with the murder of two Israelis peacefully working fields near Mevoot Baiter with tractors, and which has since reached a total of 13 separate incidents on various borders.
The failure of the Israel-Jordan Mixed Armistice Commission to condemn Jordan for this attack, because of the abstention of the UN chairman of the MAC, is also a point of concern to Israel, the UN aides were told. The UN chairman, after hours of discussion late last week, insisted that the investigation of the incident and the discussion of it at the MAC meeting had not turned up enough information to prove that Jordan was responsible.
The tension was kept at a high point this week-end by attacks on several frontiers which left one Israel soldier dead and at least four others wounded, The Israel soldier, a Druze, was killed while on patrol along the Gaza strip demilitarized zone when gunfire was directed at him from the Egyptian positions nearby. Two other Druze, also on the same patrol, were wounded.
In the Musrara quarter of Jerusalem, two Israel soldiers were wounded when Arab Legionnaires suddenly opened fire on them. Syrian troops feared against Israel troops in the Lake Huleh area and against Kibbutz Gonen near lake Tiberius, but no Israel casualties resulted. All incidents have been brought to the attention of the Mixed Armistice Commissions.
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