Four Israeli soldiers were wounded and four civilians were injured in a day-long artillery duel between Israeli and Jordanian forces in the Beisan area which ended at sundown today. The fighting climaxed the third successive day of sharp duels between Israelis and Jordanians across the cease-fire demarcation line in which both sides used machine guns, mortars, tanks and field artillery. A military spokesman said that Israeli artillery had delivered a heavy blow to Jordanian positions. He also reported that Jordanian fire had damaged the electric system of Ashdot Yaacov as well as a number of buildings. The settlers were forced to remain in bomb shelters throughout the day. Observers saw smoke rising from the Jordanian positions.
According to Israeli military announcements, the Jordanians started the week-end fire fight late Thursday afternoon with a mortar attack on Israeli units in the Neveh Ur area. Israeli return fire silenced their positions but the mortar attack was resumed at around midnight against Maoz Chaim, again drawing Israeli return fire. Another Jordanian attack was reported at about the same time against Kfar Ruppin and Ashdot Yaacov. The Jordanians resumed firing Friday morning, aiming at the Yardena area. Intermittant attacks continued through Saturday. Israeli gunners scored direct hits on Jordanian positions in Haharayim, Shiekh Housein, Manshiyeh and the Shiekh Mouhamed agricultural school which Jordanian soldiers had turned into a base.
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.
