Israeli troops were in full command of the entire Tel Aviv-Jerusalem rail line following a two-and-a-half hour battle last night with Arab irregulars who refused to evacuate the village of Beit Safafa, in the southern outskirts of Jerusalem. The village was one of a number which Transjordan agreed to evacuate as one of the conditions of the armistice pact signed with Israel on Rhodes. The Israeli forces were fortifying their new positions this morning, according to an official communique.
After the Arab Legion had evacuated a seven-mile stretch of the railroad, including the village of Quabu, part of Beit Safafa and Walaja, the Israelis ordered local Arab troops at Beit Safafa to leave, but the letter opened fire. The Jewish force brought up artillery and automatic weapons and quickly routed the guerrillas. An Army spokesman here last night stressed that Arab Legion units were not involved and that the incident meant no worsening of relations between the Israeli Army and the Legion.
Following the explosion of shells in the area south of the city last night, air raid sirens were sounded and the local population hurried home. People left shape and May Day celebrations and, after arriving at their homes, covered their windows with blackout curtains. No shells or bombs fell in the city itself. The first alert was sounded at 7:40 P.M. and the all clear was heard at 10:15 P.M.
With the entire line in Israeli hands, it is estimated that trains will be able to run between the two major Jewish cities in a matter of two weeks. It is thought here that it will take that long to repair a number of railway bridges in the evacuated strip.
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