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Palestine Passports Cease to Give British Protection After May Govt. Announces

March 26, 1948
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Palestine passports will cease to give British protection to the hearers after May 15, but will remain valid in order to indicate citizenship, it was officially announced today, revealing British determination to give up the mandate on that date under all circumstances.

The Chief Rabbinate today denied a government report that arrangements have been concluded with the authorities which would enable Jews to attend Passover service at the Wailing Wall. The Jewish Agency has also indicated that nothing is own about such arrangements having been concluded.

Haganah forces today carried out a daring attack on a large triangular formation of Arab guerrillas preparing for an assault on Tirat Zvi in the Beisan valley. Haganah engineer units blew up bridges and roads leading to the settlement while infantry troops raided the Arab village of Kaun, south of Tirat Zvi, capturing the village for two hours and demolishing all houses and strong points used by Arab bands. Later, Haganah units cleared the entire area of Arab guerrillas.

Iraqi and Syrian regulars speeding to the aid of the Arabs were apprehended and beaten off by another Haganah force that inflicted heavy casualties on the troops. All Haganah men returned to their base safely.

12 ARABS KILLED IN FOUR-HOUR BATTLE AT JAFFA

In another engagement at dawn Eaganah men blasted an Arab flour mill in the Manshieh quarter of Jaffa that dominated a considerable section of the Jaffa-Tel Aviv border. Before they succeeded in blowing up the factory, the Jews engaged strong Arab forces in a running four-hour “battle in which both sides used mortars and heavy machineguns. British troops assisted the Arabs towards the end of the fitting, Haganah reported. Incomplete reports indicated at least 12 Arabs were billed in the battle.

Meanwhile, a large force of British troops proceeded this morning to Babel Wad to clear the area of marauding Arabs and to aid the Jews still stranded on the road since yesterday’s fierce attack en their convoy. Several of the wounded Jews have already been withdraws from the area and taken to the Hadassah hospital.

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