Mayor Israel Rokach of Tel Aviv said today that an international police force of 10,000 would be sufficient to implement the U.N. decision on partition and enable fixing of the boundaries of the new Jewish state, provided the neighboring Arab states abide by the decision and do not provide arms and money for invaders. A Jewish army of at least 30,000 could be enlisted in the Jewish state, Mayor Rokach told a press conference held here under the auspices of the American Zionist Emergency Council. It could take over defense matters after the international force had carried out its work, he said.
Asked to comment on the Arab League’s threats to send in Arab armies after withdrawal of the British, Mayor Rokach said this would be “a declaration of war not against us but against the U.N.,” and would necessitate an appeal by the Jewish state to the U.N. to oppose such an invasion.
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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.