Jordanian regulars fired rockets and mortars at three Israeli settlements in the Jordan and Beisan Valleys today, a military spokesman reported. He said the targets were Tel Katzir, Hamdiya and Neve Urr. Israeli units returned the fire. There were no casualties or damage. Clashes occurred last night along the Israel-Syria demarcation line and in the Suez Canal zone which was visited today by Defense Minister Moshe Dayan and Chief of Staff, Gen. Chaim Bar-Lev.
Three Arab saboteurs, members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, were given life sentences by a military court in Nablus today. The three were members of a gang that battled an Israeli patrol near Nablus recently. Their leader was killed, three of their number were wounded and the rest surrendered. Three other members of the same gang were given sentences ranging from 15 to 25 years in prison.
(In Cairo, the semi-official newspaper Al Ahram again repeated its forecast that Israel would launch a “major blow” against Egypt. The paper said that it was imminent because of the “failure” of the April 30 Israeli commando raid on the Upper Nile Valley. In Beirut today, military officials acknowledged that Government troops had clashed with Palestinian guerrillas last week when the fedayeen tried to infiltrate into Israel from Lebanese territory. The clash was reported in Beirut newspapers but there had no official confirmation until today.
(Armed Palestinian guerrillas today battled Lebanese Army troops in the streets of Hasbayeh, near the Israel border, as President Charles Helou pleaded for national unity in a nationwide radio and television broadcast. The guerrillas reportedly fired on soldiers from roof tops in the latest of a series of clashes that began when Lebanese regulars prevented Arab commandos from raiding Israel. Newsmen were kept out of the area. It was reported that the guerrillas are members of the Syrian-sponsored al-Saiqa (Thunderbolt) group.
(President Helou spoke on the occasion of Martyrs Day, honoring the heroes of Lebanese independence. He is still searching for someone to form a new Government. The Government of Premier Rashid Karami fell nearly two weeks ago in the midst of fierce rioting by Palestinian refugees and students in the streets of Beirut and other towns. Lebanon fears that giving a free hand to the guerrillas would bring severe Israeli reprisals. President Helou declared today that Lebanon has been “faithful to the Arab cause” and will remain so. The country is almost evenly divided between Christians and Moslems; the former generally favor a cautious position in the Middle East crisis but the Moslems demand a more aggressive policy against Israel.)
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