Israeli and Arab Legion troops today evacuated the demilitarized area in the vicinity of Government House here, an Israeli official communique announced.
The communique said that the movement of troops was completed by 1 P.M. local time, the deadline set yesterday by the mixed armistice commission composed of representatives of Israel, Transjordan and the U.N. A United Nations communique yesterday said that the troops of both sides had been ordered to leave the area because their presence violates the” armistice pact reached at Rhodes between Israel and Transjordan.
Yesterday’s U.N. announcement was released at the end of a six-hour session of the armistice commission, under the chairmanship of Brig. Gen. William E. Riley, the U.N. mediator’s chief of staff. Gen. Riley also noted yesterday that there is need to clarify the status of the civilians in the area and that he will contact the two governments in an effort to straighten out the situation at the earliest possible opportunity.
Gen. Riley’s reference to the civilians leaves open the problem of the Jews at the agricultural school in the neutral zone. The Israelis have thus far insisted upon their-right to plough their fields and continue their studies in the disputed area, pointing out that they do not compose a military occupation force and are not a threat to anybody’s security.
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