Jordan today has renewed an old dispute with Israel about a road coming down from Mt. Scopus. Through the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, Israel was notified by Jordan that the Amman government will take steps” unless Israel permits “uncontrolled, unrestricted” Arab travel on the road from Mt. Scopus.
The road in question is one that leads from the Arab village of Issawia. on Mount Scopus, through the edge of the Israel-held portion of Mt. Scopus. Israel permitted Jordan unrestricted use of that road until a year ago, when Jordanians started a battle with an Israel mountain patrol, killing four Israeli soldiers as well as the Canadian Col George Flint, who was at that time chairman of the Israel-Jordan Mixed Armistice Commission.
Following that Jordanian attack, Israel shut off Arab travel on that road entirely Later, at the insistence of Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold, who tried to ease tensions between Israel and Jordan, Israel decided to allow Arabs to use the road in the daytime only. Jordan’s demand now is seen here as threat that Jordan is ready to start trouble again in the Mt. Scopus area.
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