Syrian troops opened fire against Israeli workers at Ashmora last night for the second time in 24 hours, spreading a fire in wheat fields touched off in the first clash. Israel filed a complaint again with the Mixed Armistice Commission.
Syrian fields were set afire in that exchange and the blaze reached Israeli territory. The shooting last night caused the fire to spread. It was brought under control by a fire brigade only after it destroyed 450 dunams (115 acres) with damages estimated at 80,000 pounds ($26,000).
The Damascus Radio said last night that Ahmed Shukairy, chairman of the “Palestine Liberation Organization, ” had offered the PLO army in Syria to the Syrian Government for use in connection with “the concentration of Israeli troops on the Syrian border.” It was reported that there were 6,000 PLO troops in Syria, recruited from Arab Palestine refugees.
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