Israeli police, under heavy military guard, resumed work today on clearing mines from the 6, 000 square yard demilitarized area along the Israel-Syrian border. It was in this area that Syrian troops last week unleashed a savage attack which killed two policemen and wounded six others, all engaged in clearing the land which belongs to the Jewish National Fund.
(At the United Nations, the Syrian delegation submitted a note to the Security Council protesting against the Israel action, calling it an incursion by 60 troops, four military vehicles and one jet aircraft. Later in the day four Israeli jets flew over Syrian territory, the note claimed. Syria also protested to the Mixed Armistice Commission.)
Before starting today’s operation, the Israeli authorities notified United Nations headquarters of their intentions and official UN observers were sent to study the activity, Syrian gun positions were silent today in the face of the escort protecting the policemen.
In Jerusalem, a Foreign Ministry spokesman expressed the hope that the presence of UN observers would be sufficient to prevent a recurrence of Syrian violence. He denied out of hand Syrian charges that Israel had concentrated troops, armor and jet planes over the area. Mine clearance work began three months ago to make more land available for cultivation.
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.
