A number of trucks carrying fuel, sugar, flour and eggs from Tel Aviv to Jewish Jerusalem were turned back today at the halfway point along the main road because in the opinion of U.N. observers there are ample supplies of these commodities in Jerusalem.
The observers thus instituted a new policy of turning back supplies which are in adequate supply, apparently to guard against the possibility of stockpiling for the post-truce period. Today’s convoy was the first to leave Tel Aviv for Jerusalem in two days.
The Israeli Government today revealed that its application to the Truce Commission in Jerusalem that Jews be permitted to worship at the Wailing Well in the Arab-held Old City has not yet been granted because of the objection of one consul–reportedly the French. The French consul is believed to be angry over the Jewish refusal to evacuate the French Notre Dame hostel which the Palmach captured from the Arabs.
The Israeli Government also disclosed that it has ordered its representatives in London to protest to the British against the continued detention of some 250 Palestine political prisoners in a camp at Gilgil, Kenya, after the U.N. mediator’s ruling that their return to Palestine would not violate the truce.
ISRAEL ESTABLISHING FOREIGN TRADE CONTACTS; SENDS MISSIONS ABROAD
Israel is establishing foreign trade contacts and at present several Jewish delegations are already in foreign capitals for the purpose of acquiring essential supplies, chief of which are now foodstuffs, it was learned here today.
The main difficulty in pursuing this program is the British Government’s unwillingness to release Palestinian blocked sterling in London, which is required for payment abroad. Another hardship is the result of the decision taken by the Eastern Mediterranean Shipping Conference in London to refuse to accept cargoes bound for Israel on British vessels, Tate situation has, however, been remedied by Israel officials who have arranged the transshipment of supplies from Marseilles and from Italian ports via Israeli ships and chartered vessels.
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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.
