Report Israelis in Nazareth; Jewish Villages Shelled in South; Egyptians Lose 500 Men

Israeli forces today entered the outskirts of the city of Nazareth which Fawzi el Kaukuji has turned into a major “base for his guerrilla “Liberation Army,” it was reported here from the central Galilee front. However, the reports could net “be immediately confirmed.

Earlier, official communiques disclosed that Nazareth was encircled from three sides and in imminent danger of being overrun. Last night the Jews pushed toward from captured Shafa Amr, on Nazareth’s northwestern perimeter, and captured nearby Iblin, Israeli planes were active on bombing .missions in the area and against Arab concentrations in the vicinity of Jenin.

On the southern front the Egyptians today shelled the Jewish villages of Beer Tuvia, Galen and Gat, while the Jews last night seized the Arab stronghold of Beit Saffa. After six days of heavy fighting and intense artillery duels, the Arabs have finally been dispersed from in front of the Jewish strongpoint of Negba, in the Negev. The Egyptians lost at least 500 men and much armor in the campaign.

Tel Aviv, which yesterday received its first night air attack, today had three air alerts but no Arab planes appeared in the skies over the city. The switch to night bombing and the failure of the Egyptian bombers to penetrate the defenses of the city during the last few days, is unofficially explained hero as resulting from the increased strength of the Israeli fighter command and the anti-aircraft batteries.

An Israeli Army spokesman said today that “stray Pakistani have been reported fighting with Arab forces in northern Palestine, although there is no evidence that they are fighting together in organized units.” He said that to date Israeli troops have not made direct contact with any Pakistani fighters.