More than 100 Egyptians were killed last night after a full Egyptian battalion launched an attack against Israeli positions in the Negev, an official communique said today. The assault, which took place near the settlement of Nirim, followed an earlier clash in which the Jews knocked out five of 20 Egyptian tanks being used to protect enemy engineer units laying mines and cutting water pipelines. The situation in the Negev was officially described as fluid.
A U.N. announcement in Haifa said today that a cease-fire agreement, similar to the one signed between the Israelis and the Arab Legion in Jerusalem, was signed last week-end between the Jews and Iraqi units stationed at Kalandia, half-way between Tulkarm and Nathanya. The agreement covers the entire Iraqi front, from Ras el Ain to Beisan, and is valid for a period of two weeks. The Iraqis and Jews will meet again on Dec. 13 to consider the first week’s results of the agreement.
Commenting on the Haifa communique from United Nations truce headquarters, Israeli military circles said they do not attach great importance to what they termed “this played-up” U.N. announcement. They declared that they felt it was odd “when compared with the daily war drum which is beating daily in Iraq.” They stressed that the Israeli Army’s vigilance will not be relaxed.
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