Israeli Leaders Warn of Possible Resumption of War; Criticize U.S. Truce Machinery

Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok and Yigal Yadin, chief of Operations of the Israeli Army, today blasted the United Nations truce supervision machinery as one-sided and biased.

The Israeli leaders, who addressed a joint press conference here, also warned of the possibility of an early resumption of hostilities. They cited evidence of Arab troop concentrations in different areas of Palestine and Shertok warned that “if the Arabs launch an attack on one front, Israel will consider itself free to counteract on other fronts as well.”

Shertok charged that “considerable Arab reinforcements of men, arms and supplies are reaching the Arab fronts continuously. Egyptian trains are running frequently and bring supplies in entirely unchecked and Arab troops are crossing the Jordan five days a week, although the observers are on duty only two days each week, he said.

The Israeli minister pointed out the serious lack of observers in the Arab countries as contrasted to the number assigned to Israeli positions. There are six U.N. observers in all of “vast Iraq” and 14 in Syria, while 18 have been assigned o the city of Tel Aviv alone. Yadin emphasized that the war is being fought by Invading armies, not local Arabs, therefore the supervision of the U.N. must extend back into the home countries of the invading forces. Shertok said that the 305 observers — including 55 in Arab countries — who are now on duty throughout Palestine and the Middle East cost the nations of the world about $1,000,000 a Month and “really effective” supervision in the Arab countries would cost even more.

U.N. STAFF IS BIASED AND FAVORS ARABS, SHERTOK SAYS

In a list of “flagrant truce breaches,” Shertok included the Jerusalem Water supply situation, where no arrangement has yet been put into effect despite a U.N. decision to permit the Jews to get their water through the Latrun pumping station which is under Arab control. He also charged that Lebanese warships are diverting vessels on the high seas to Lebanese ports where non-military cargo consigned to Israel is being seized. Another truce violation which he scored was the Arab refusal to evacuate positions captured on Jerusalem’s Mt. Zion after the truce went into effect unless the Jews withdraw from positions gained before the truce.

“All these prove the futility of the entire truce observation system,” Shertok declared. “Numerous proofs are available for our claiming that the United Nations staff here is biased and is favoring the Arabs. The actual method of the United Nations here is — get tough with the Jews but use persuasion and patience With the Arabs,” he continued.

Shertok concluded that there is “clear” evidence based on authentic reports that makes the Israelis believe that the Arabs are preparing an offensive. That, he asserted, is one way to end the truce, but the Jews wish to terminate the truce by a lasting peace.