Palestine Goverment Denies Troops from Neichboring Arab Countries Kassing on Borders

The Palestine Government issued a communique this afternoon denying any knowledge of Arab troop movements along the borders of Palestine. “In view of persistens rumors of Arab troop concentrations on Palestine’s northern borders, we are asked to state emphatically that the government has no knowledge of such troop concentrations,” the communique said.

The communique was issued as a result of reports from Beirut and Damascus that Lebanese and Syrian troops had taken up stations along Palestine’s frontiers. The Beirut reports also said that Egyptian troops were preparing to move into the Sinai desert, on Palestine’s southern border, while the Transjordan Arab Legion was ## in the east, along the Jordan River.

British military circles, as well as informed Jewish circles, however, discounted the reports of extensive troops movements, delcaring that the rumors were part of a war of nerves against the Jews. One source thought that Lebanese and Syrian military maneuvers might be aimed at King Abdullah of Transjordan, who has been at odds with the Levant states over his plan for a Greater Syria, composed of Lebanon, Syria, Transjordan and the projected Arab state in Palestine.

REPORT OF TROOP CONCENTRATIONS CAUSES NO STIR IN PALESTINE

The reported concentrations along various Palestine frontiers is seen here as a logical part of the Arab propaganda offensive against the United Nations. It caused no stir in Palestine today, least of all in Kaganah circles.

There is some apprehension among the Jews, however, that the United Nations may be taken in by what appears to be an attempt on the part of the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem to create a “Munich” atmosphere in the best tradition of Hitler. Otherwise, the reports are likened to “the hot wind of the desert.”

Of real concern to the Jews is the fact that Arab soldiers of the Transjordan Frontier Force last week replaced British troops on Palestine a northern frontier. This makes it easier for Syrian bends to attack Jewish settlements and more difficutl for the Jews to defend themselves. Jewish sources fear that the Transjordan troops might join the Arab attackers. A Transjordan battalion which moved up from ## at the south end of the sea of Galilee now commands the Khalisa cross-roads connecting Jewish settlements in the north Hule region, near the Syrian-Lebanese ##, with the rest of Palestine. It likewise commands the road at Rosh Pinah, ## Safad, along which Jewish reinforcements would have to come in the event of attacks on Jewish settlements in the area.