The Israel Foreign Ministry loosed a blast today at the report on the May 26 Israel-Jordan conflict on Mt. Scopus in which United Nations observer Lt. Col. George A. Flint and four Israeli policemen lost their lives. Observers here believe that the report, submitted by UN truce chief Carl C. von Horn to Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold and by him passed on to the Security Council, will further complicate attempts to ease tension around the Mt. Scopus issue.
The von Horn report, released at the United Nations yesterday, was scored for failing to mention unequivocally Jordon’s responsibility for the five deaths, though Jordan officially admitted having started the fighting. The report said Col. Flint, chairman of the Israel Jordan Mixed Armistice Commission was “probably” shot by a bullet from Jordan-held territory. The report was also criticized for:
1. Falling to state that Issawia village, whence the firing on Israel police came on May 26, was originally in the Israel sector of the height and should only have held 150 unarmed inhabitants.
2. Stating that the Mt. Scopus boundary dispute was due to each side using a different map, but failing to note that the map to which Israel adheres was signed by Jordan, Israel and the UN, while the Jordanian version never was signed by Israel.
3. Incorrectly stating that Israel expanded its patrolling activities on Mt. Scopus.
4. Failing to note that Arabs from Issawia had been using without authority a road through Israel-held territory–a fact which the UN recognized eight years ago.
Meanwhile, Andrew Cordier, Mr. Hammarskjold’s executive assistant, held another inconclusive meeting with Israel Foreign Ministry officials today. He then left for talks in Amman and a trip to Beirut to report to Mr. Hammarskjold who is expected here early next week.
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.
