Peace between Israel and the Arab states cannot be achieved by “magic” nor within a short period, but only be creating a “psychological atmosphere” and changing the attitudes of the leaders of both sides, Maj. Gen. E. L. M. Burns, United Nations Chief of Staff of the truce organization, told the Haifa Rotary Club last night.
Stressing that a policy of revenge and retaliation should be avoided, Gen. Burns recommended the establishment of a system of cooperation in police action by Israel and Arab authorities to avoid infiltration. When a crime is committed in a border area, he suggested, officers on both sides should be informed and road blocks should be erected to apprehend the criminals.
The UN truce chief emphasized that Jordan has declared a policy of punishing infiltrators, and that the Egyptian authorities have sentenced Arab infiltrators whom they have caught, to from one to five years in prison. He noted that both Israel and the Arab states have agreed to use only disciplined troops or police in border regions and that these troops are under orders not to fire without direct instructions from their officers.
He told his audience that the question of his signature to the proposed Israel-Jordan local commanders agreement would shortly be resolved. He also reported that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Jordan that members of each others armed forces who are captured shall be treated as prisoners of war, and that negotiations are under way to have each side release within 15 days any such personnel who were not engaged in hostile actions when apprehended.
Meanwhile, Israel has protested to the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission the wounding of an Israel policeman by Syrian troops today. The policeman was on duty in a patrol boat on Lake Kinneret when Syrian troops on the east bank opened fire.
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