An informal joint session of the Israeli and Transjordanian delegations to the armistice conference was held here this afternoon. After a two-hour discussion during which the “first item of the proposals” was considered, the meeting was adjourned until tomorrow.
Earlier, the Arabs submitted to acting mediator Ralph J. Bunche a set of counter proposals in reply to the demands set forth by the Israelis yesterday to change the Arab positions in the Beit Naballab-Jerusalem area. The Transjordanians suggested that the Legion be permitted to take up new positions along the road from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. Secondly, they proposed that the southern suburbs of Jerusalem–Ramath Rachel, Talpioth and Mekor Chaim–which are now controlled by the Jews, the converted into a no-man’s land.
In addition, the Arabs demanded that the road from the Damascus Gate to Bethlehem be opened. The road would run through parts of Jewish Jerusalem. Finally, they asked for joint supervision of the Jaffa-Jerusalem railroad with the directorship alternating between the Israelis and the Trans Jordanians. The first director would be an Arab, according to the proposal.
Jacob Shimoni of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Middle East Department arrived here today. His arrival was interpreted as a sign that the scope of the negotiations would be broadened to include certain political problems.
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