Shelling of a police station at the settlement of Imara and various sectors of the Mivtahim settlement, both in the Negev and east of Bafa, continued through last night and this morning, an official Israeli communique stated. A number of Israeli casualties have been inflicted, and the Egyptians still hold the positions they seized in this week-end’s truce violations.
A “food” parcel dropped by an Egyptian plane for Arab troops surrounded in the Faluja area was today picked up by Israeli troops when it fell wide of its mark. The Jews found that the parcel contained not food for the Egyptian troops, but various military supplies including ammunition.
Meanwhile, it was announced that Arab tribal chieftains and sheikhs in the southern desert area and in the eastern portion of the Negev last week contacted Israeli authorities in Beersheba to ask that their tribes be placed under Israeli protection. Negotiations continue.
Leonard Bernstein of New York conducted the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert at Beersheba yesterday. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers were in the audience. The United Nations truce observers, who yesterday asked for several tickets to the concert, did not attend.
CONTACTS WITH ARAB STATES COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED PEACE TALKS, ISRAEL SAYS
Commenting on reports of peace negotiations between Israel and various Arab states, a Foreign Office spokesman today said: “Whatever contacts with the Arab states have been reported could not be described as peace talks or negotiations. The Israeli authorities are as anxious as always to begin peace talks with the Arab states and would do all in their power to help all the Arab states wishing to begin such negotiations to do so.”
The Foreign Office last night announced that Israel will open legations in various European capitals including Budapest, Bucharest and Belgrade, An official of the Foreign Office told the press that negotiations are now in progress for the establishment of civilian air traffic between France and Israel. He revealed that Israeli representatives have participated in 20 international conferences thus far and that the Israeli representative in Britain enjoys the same status as the British representative in Israel.
It was announced today that the huge Lydda airport will be opened to civilian truffle Wednesday. The field was closed by the British in May and subsequently damaged badly in July when the Israelis captured it, driving out an Arab Legion garrison.
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.
