A series of incidents in the past 36 hours along the Egyptian and Jordan borders, coupled with the tension on the Syrian frontier has brought bitter comment in Israel newspapers and among the people that Israel cannot continue to maintain a policy of moderation in the face of Arab provocation and murder.
A military spokesman today revealed that an Israeli was wounded on the Jordan border near Beisan when infiltrees opened fire on him. In a separate incident near Mevoot Beitar, in the vicinity where two Jewish tractor operators were killed earlier Israel, the spokesman said, Jordanian marauders crossed into Israel and kidnaped two Arab shepherds together with 129 head of sheep.
On the Egyptian border Arabs fired on the settlement of Ramath Rachel, but hurt no one. Near Mishmar Hayarden, an Egyptian military post across the border fired on a truck inside Israel and hit the vehicle. Syrian troops on the eastern shore of Lake Tiberias fired on Israel police patrol and fishing boats yesterday, but caused no casualties. All cases have been referred to the appropriate Mixed Armistice Commission.
The public’s shock at the new rash of killings and attacks was all the greater since they erupted a day after Premier Moshe Sharett reported to Parliament that relative quiet reigned on the borders. Even such a moderate newspaper as the pro-government Davar, which normally calls for restraint in the face of provocation, questions how much longer a policy of restraint can be pursued under such conditions.
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