Two Israeli soldiers were killed today, two others injured and Two Red Cross International officials also were wounded in two shooting attacks by Jordanian troops at the Allenby Bridge over the River Jordan. The two attacks were followed by an artillery exchange which lasted 90 minutes.
The shooting began as an Israeli liaison officer approached the bridge to arrange for the crossing of several Arab families under Israel’s family reunion program. In the first salvo, the two soldiers were killed and the other two wounded. Israeli troops returned the fire and attempts were made to rescue the wounded Israeli soldiers. An agreement was reached for a cease-fire and the Red Cross officials moved onto the bridge to help bring back the wounded soldiers. The Jordanians suddenly resumed fire, wounding the Red Cross officials. The Israelis opened artillery fire and extricated the two wounded soldiers who were taken to Hadassah Hospital.
An Israeli border policeman was killed and three others injured when the half-track in which they were riding hit a mine today south of Ashdod Yaacov in the Beisan Valley near the Jordanian border. Officials reported that pamphlets of the El Fatah terrorist hand and explosives were found nearby.
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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.
