A special meeting of the Israel Cabinet was convoked today by Premier David Ben Gurion in view of the deteriorating security situation. The meeting was held while civil defense services in Jerusalem carried out a mock air raid in full dress drill.
The Premier and all the members of the Cabinet took shelter during the drill, which was the largest ever held in Israel. Air raid sirens screamed, dud shells dropped, smoke bombs exploded and “casualties” were evacuated from feigned wreckage. Fire fighters, first aid units and air raid wardens took up their posts as traffic was halted for the duration of the alarm. Passers-by were rushed into shelters during the alarm, which lasted 10 minutes.
The Israel Government, in an official communique, charged last night that Jordanian authorities were responsible for the organization and training of some 200 Arab refugees, residents of border villages and convicts into marauding gangs which have been killing and wounding Israeli citizens in forays and ambuscades across the border.
The official statement said that the marauders were trained at Arab Legion camps and that their raids were executed with the full knowledge of the Legion. Prior to the organization of these bands last April, the statement continued, Jordan permitted the establishment of fedayeen (Egyptian suicide squads) bases in its territory for the reception of Egyptian raiders who crossed Israel to haven in Jordan after attacking Israeli people and property. These fedayeen raiders were welcomed by the Legion and were showered with honors at Legion encampments and in Jordanian cities including Hebron and Bethlehem, Israel charged.
Meanwhile, United Nations truce headquarters here issued a statement to the effect that in had sent observers to Israel positions in Jerusalem and was sending other observers to Jordan positions in the same area to check on Israeli and Jordanian Government denials that each was concentrating troops along the border. The statement said that Israel’s denials had already been verified by UN observers.
The Israel-Jordan Mixed Armistice Commission condemned Jordan yesterday for the sabotage mining of an Israeli patrol car in the Afula area last Sunday night. The car was wrecked and a police sergeant was wounded.
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