An Israeli Army convoy bound for the Negev was attacked by Egyptian forces last night, an official communique reported today. The convoy was attacked with automatic weapons and artillery when it endeavored to proceed to the southern desert area via a Jewish-held corridor which passes through Egyptian lines.
The communique said heavy fighting continued through the night and is still raging, Israeli units replied to the Egyptian assault by attacking the enemy’s com-communication lines and motor concentrations. The Jewish convoy was compelled to turn back, the communique said. U.N. truce observers were dispatched to the battle area late today.
In Jerusalem, both Arabs and Jews today complained to the U.N. truce commission that the other side was guilty of violating the truce, The Stern Group said an Arab sniper had shot one of its members while the Arabs said the Jews were firing mortar shells into the Old City.
HAGANAH COMMANDO VETERAN APPOINTED NEW JERUSALEM COMMANDER
Col. Moshe Dayan, veteran Israeli commander, will replace David Shealtiel as commander of the Sixth Brigade in Jerusalem, it was announced here. It was re-ported that Dayan will soon be named military governor for the city, in line with an announcement earlier this week claiming the Jewish sector of Jerusalem as Israeli-occupied territory.
Dayan has been a leader of commando units in the Negev, and during World War II served as a scout leader for the British in the Syrian campaign. He lost an eye in that operation. Several weeks ago he accompanied the body of the late Col. David Marcus back to the United States. Shealtiel will probably be appointed to a diplomatic post abroad, it was stated.
An Israeli intelligence report made public today said that Egyptian troops wounded in the recent fighting are not being sent home hut are being kept in field hospitals, probably to conceal the extent of casualties from the civilian population.
Minister for Minorities Behor Shitreet visited Lydda and issued orders that the Arabs’ economic, housing and water supply problems be met with immediately. Only 700 Arabs have remained in Lydda since the town’s capitulation to Israel forces, Most of them are Christians.
Meanwhile, the Panamanian Foreign Minister today welcomed the state of Israel into “the family of nations.” In a massage to Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok, the panama Government greeted the new state as of “equal international status with other nations.”
An official immigration Ministry announcement declared that “it is hoped to maintain and even to speed up–the present immigration rate to Israel, which is designed to bring In 120,000 immigrants annually,” The announcement disclosed that the first immigrants will be the 12,000 Jews still detained on Cyprus and 100,000 living in displaced persons camps in Europe. There are at present eight reception camps in Israel capable of housing 20,000 persons simultaneously.
It was learned hers that the presidium of the Zionist Actions Committee has decided to fulfill the request of its American members to postpone the next session of the group to August 22. The meeting will be held in Jerusalem. An Israeli spokesman said today that military attaches will probably be appointed to Israel’s major legations abroad, as will commercial and press representatives. He revealed that at present the Jewish state has arranged postal communications with 35 countries. With most of them there is also an air mail service, he said.
It was reported from Beirut today that a hand grenade thrown into the heavily guarded Jewish quarter of the city by unidentified persons resulted in the wounding of at least three Jews.
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