Maj. Gen. E.L.M. Burns, new United Nations truce chief in Palestine, has warned the Security Council that recent Israel-Jordan border incidents may develop into dangerous hostilities. The warning was contained in Gen. Burns’ first report to the Council, submitted yesterday.
Commenting on a series of Israel-Jordan clashes which included an alleged Israeli retaliatory raid on the Jordan village of Beit Liqya, Gen. Burns’ report said: “Retaliation against marauding by means of armed raids is contrary to the General Armistice Agreement and is a dangerous remedy. A raid like that of Beit Liqya may result in an armed clash which, if not stopped rapidly, may develop into hostilities extending like a brushfire.”
The report also criticized Israel for holding military maneuvers close to the Israel-Jordan armistice lines. Such exercises, “especially with live ammunition,” is apt to alarm people on the other side of the border, the report noted.
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.
