A Jordanian police station which was one of the targets of the November 13 Israeli reprisal raid was the source of shooting today at Israeli workers south of the Hebron mountain near Hirbot Yatir.
Jordanians in the Rujum El Madfa police station began shooting at the workers who were well inside Israeli territory. Members of an armed escort returned the fire. The exchange lasted only three minutes and no casualties were reported. Israel lodged a complaint with the Jordanian-Israeli Mixed Armistice Commission.
(In an interview with the Associated Press, King Hussein of Jordan said today that the Jordanian army would strike back at Israel “and strike back extremely hard, “if Israel attacks again in reprisal action across the armistice line. At the same time he accused the Soviet Union of whipping up tensions in the Middle East in a drive to control the oil-rich strategic region. He said communists exploited Jordan’s current crisis resulting from Israel’s raid.)
Radio Amman today reported that members of the Jordanian Parliament paid a visit to King Hussein and assured him of their support. They denounced attempts by what they called seditious elements to stir up disturbances. They also criticized what they termed the psychological warfare being waged against Jordan by Syria and the United Arab Republic.
(In Washington, official sources said today that the United States is expediting delivery of 36 jet Star fighters (F-104 type) to Jordan to bolster the position of the Hussein regime and improve Jordanian air defense against Israel. It was also revealed that anti-aircraft, anti-tank, and other weapons may be supplied. Last year Jordan received 50 M-48 Patton tanks.)
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.