At least three members of the Arab Legion, who were occupying forward positions facing the Jewish area in northern Jerusalem, were wooded yesterday when Jewish forces returned their rifle and machine-gun fire, according to an official Israel communique released here today. One Jewish soldier was slightly hurt, the communique said.
Breaches of the truce In Jerusalem continued throughout all of last night and the early hours of this morning, with both sides engaging in brisk mortar and rifle exchanges. In line with a new Israel Army decision, the Israeli Army’s front-line pests began today to retaliate against “unprovoked firing.”
Following is a picture of truce violations during the past 24 hours as given by the local information office of the Israel Defense and Foreign Affairs Ministries:
Southern Jerusalem: The Arabs in Deir Abu Tor began directing sporadic rifle and automatic fire against northern Talpioth. The Jews returned the Arabs fire. A member of mortar shells were also fired at Jewish suburbs in this sector of the city.
Eastern Jerusalem: Arabs fired two heavy shells at Jewish military positions on Mt. Zion from the Old City wall just before midnight.
Northern Jerusalem: Exchanges of fire continued throughout yesterday.
250 ARAB LEGIONNAIRES ENTERED PALESTINE DURING TRUCE, ISRAEL SAYS
John Reedman, U.S. Secretary-General Trygve Lie’s personal representative in Israel, was notified today by the Israeli Government that 250 trained Arab Legion recruits crossed the Jordan River into Palestine on August 3, two weeks after the current U.H. truce went into effect. The Israeli note to Reedman said that no U.N. observers were present at the Allenby Bridge spanning the Jordan, which is the most likely spot the Legionnaires would have used to enter Palestine.
Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok also protested to Reedman over the Egyptian Government’s seizure a few days ago of a non-military cargo bound from Israel for the United States, Shertok pointed out that U.N. Palestine mediator Count Folke Bernadotte has gone on record as stating that seizures of non-military cargoes would be considered breaches of the truce.
A U.S. consulate guard, Joseph Przyowsky, of Pennsylvania, was wounded by a sniper’s bullet over the week-end while driving an official American car.Consul-General John J. MacDonald submitted a very strong protest to Israeli military governor Dr. Bernard Joseph and asked that the Security Council be informed of this absolutely flagrant violation of the truce.”
Late today a delegation of Irgun Zvai Leumi leaders in Jerusalem called on Dr. Joseph to notify him that the Irgun has decided to accept his authority in the city. The Irgun leaders pledged not to take the law into their own hands again.
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