Israeli Officer is Killed, Three Soldiers Wounded in Beisan Valley Clash

An Israeli Army officer, Lt. Yoram Marlander, of Kfar Giladi, was killed today and three soldiers were wounded in a Jordanian attack on Israeli forces near Maoz Chaim in the Beisan Valley, a military spokesman reported. He said the hour-long attacks ended at noon.

A military spokesman disclosed that three civilian Druze watchmen were gunned to death Saturday by a gang of Arab saboteurs near a heavy equipment plant they were guarding in the Eilat area. Their bodies were discovered when workers returned to the plant yesterday. According to the spokesman, the watchmen were surprised by a gang of marauders who tossed hand grenades and riddled them with bullets.

Jordanian and Israeli units fought a three-hour artillery and small arms duel in the Jordan Valley south of the Sea of Galilee last night. A military spokesman said the clash started when Jordanians opened fire on Israeli troops and later brought artillery and mortars into action. No casualties were reported. A military spokesman reported that a bazooka shell and small arms fire were aimed last night at an Israeli patrol near the Umm Tutz pass on the Jordan River south of the Beisan Valley. He said the fire was returned and there were no casualties.

Israeli soldiers shot and killed an Arab fugitive who failed to obey their orders to halt in an orange grove on the outskirts of Gaza last night. A man fleeing with the fugitive was wounded and captured. The deceased was identified as a former Gaza magistrate. Shauki el-Farah, who was arrested by Israeli authorities on Aug. 9 for allegedly transmitting military information to the El Fatah terrorist organization. He escaped from prison on Aug. 11 and had been the object of a widespread manhunt.