While peace reigned in the Old City of Jerusalem today for the first time in months-under the terms of the 48-hour cease fire agreement–the first 1,000 British soldiers sent to Palestine from Cyprus landed at Haifa. They will be followed by additional troops from Malta.
Meanwhile, Haganah reinforcements were being rushed into position on Palestine’s northeastern frontier, facing Syria, to head off a threatened new invasion and attack on Jewish settlements in Upper Galilee. Jewish intelligence has reported that new Syrian units are pouring into the Batiha area, just across the Jordan River in Syria, and that more troops have been observed on the main road from Damascus moving toward Batiha, which is a terminus of the road. For the time being, however, all is quiet on this front.
Although Jerusalem was peaceful today–except for sporadic shooting on a minor scale–the Arabs violated the cease fire agreement last night several hours after it went into effect. Arab mortars began shelling the Jewish part of the Old City. Two children were killed and several persons injured before British artillery silenced the Arabs. Large numbers of Arabs are continuing to evacuate the city.
Reports from southern Palestine stated that the Jews yesterday blew up several bridges leading into the Arab city of Beersheba in an attempt to isolate the Arab guerrillas based in the town. All roads in the vicinity are now considered impassable. In north central Palestine the Haganah has occupied two Arab villages near Safad from which guerrilla reinforcements have been infiltrating Safad and sniping at the Jews.
The Palestine Government today denied reports that the Arab Legion had disobeyed orders from High Commissioner Sir Alan G. Cunningham to cease fire against the Jewish settlement of Gesher on the northeastern frontier. The government statement accused the Jews of opening fire on the Legionnaires.
The extent of the disruption of the Arab political leadership was revealed today when it was learned that the tentative Arab government which will be responsible for law and order after the end of the Mandate, 12 days hence, does not include a single member of the Husseini-controlled Higher Committee. The Arab Provisional Government is reportedly being organized in one of the neighboring countries.
The casualty toll in the Palestine fighting today surpassed the 10,000 figure. More than 5,000 persons–including 3,569 Arabs end 1,256 Jews–have been killed since the United Nations partition decision was announced, while more than 5,600 persons have been wounded, including 2,100 Jews and 3.160 Arabs.
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.
