An agreement will be signed tomorrow by the Israeli Amy and the Arab Legion in Jerusalem “freezing” the front lines according to maps drawn up last night and today by the Jews and Arabs meeting under the auspices of the United Nations Truce Commission here. Meanwhile, Egyptian officers commanding positions south of Jerusalem have crossed the Jewish lines for the first the in order to initiate discussions for demarcating the battle lines in their sectors.
The negotiations with the Arab Legion were conducted by Brigadier David Shaltiel, commander of the Israeli Sixth Brigade which is defending Jerusalem. His Arab counterpart was Lt. Col. Abdullah el Tel, while the U.N. observer was Col. Frank Begley of the U.S. After the initial meeting, the Jewish and Arab commanders visited the Sheikh Jarrach and Mea Shearim quarters where fighting had not ceased for the truce and ordered their respective forces to hold their fire. After they parted, Arab snipers opened up on Brig. Shaltiel, but did not hit him.
This morning Arab forces near the Damascus Gate, demolished the upper story of a French convent within the Old City in order to block up a hole blasted in the wall by the Irgun during the last Jewish pre-truce offensive. The Jews have protested this action as a violation of the cease-fire.
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