Jordah Asks U.N. to Suspend Action in Disputed Land Claim, Israel Official Reports

The Government of Jordan has requested U.N. Secretary-General Trygve Lie to suspend further action over the disputed Naharayim area, Lt. Col. A. Harkavi, Israel’s chief representative to the mixed armistice commissions, announced today. He explained that the Jordanians have “now observed the signature of John Glubb Pasha, Arab legion commander during the Arab-Israel war, on a map showing that the disputed area was awarded to Israel” on June 22, 1949.

(A week-end press agency dispatch from Amman reported that the Jordan Government threatened to take military action within four days unless Israel forces withdrew from the Naharayim sector. U.N. truce chief Gen. William Riley declared in Tel Aviv that the disputed area was definitely in Israel territory, but added that he had legal reservations arising out of the fact that the land had belonged to Jordan before the Palestine fighting.)

Meanwhile, Arab radio stations in the Middle East launched a violent anti-Israel propaganda campaign during the week-end over the Israel-Jordan crisis. The British-controlled Near East Arabic Radio asserted that “Jordan considers the Israel action very serious and it might involve the Arabs in another war.” It was also reported that the Syrian Cabinet discussed the alleged Israel “invasion of Arab territory” last Wednesday and then proceeded to contact all Arab capitals in order to line them up for a united stand. It is understood that Syria also informed Jordan that it is resolved “to drive out the Jews by force.”

Col. Harkavi at the same time declared that Israel is deeply concerned over the “intensification recently of incidents along the Egyptian border, culminating in the mining of a military vehicle in the Negev (see P.2).” Israel military officials,” who view the incident with grave anxiety, “will raise the most energetic protest at the forthcoming meeting of the Israel-Egyptian mixed armistice commission,” he added.