Israel military circles today took a grave view of the cutting of the Israel road to Eilath by Jordan military forces. However, the situation is not termed serious. The Israel authorities have formally demanded an emergency meeting of the mixed armistice commission.
The sudden occupation of part of the Israel main road in the Negev which leads to the Gulf of Aqaba was discovered when Israel troops, moving along this only road to Eilath, found the road blooked by Jordanian armored forces. Israel authorities immediately lodged a complaint with Col. Bennett de Ridder, acting United Nations chief of staff, terming Jordan’s action a flagrant breach of the Israel-Jordanian armistice agreement and insisting on the immediate convening of a meeting of the mixed armistice commission.
The road which Jordan’s Arab Legion occupied passes Israel territory along Wadi Araba, between Sodom and Eilath. Last week Jordan filed a complaint with the armistice commission claiming that the road passes through Jordan territory. This complaint has been referred to the Israel members of the commission in accordance with existing procedure. The claim has not yet been discussed by the Armistice Commission. Israel authorities expect Col. de Ridder to order the Arab Legion to evacuate the road.
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