Israeli military forces and police are taking elaborate precautions to protect next Thursday’s Independence Day celebrations from possible sabotage and terrorist strikes by Arab marauders. Police check posts have been set up on all major highways leading to the big cities and all vehicles coming from occupied territories are meticulously inspected. Border patrols have been strengthened. Brig. Gen. Uzzi Narkis, commander of the central front, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that protection of the cities during Independence Day begins at the frontiers.
The heavily armed El Fatah band that was waylaid and destroyed by Israeli forces north of Jericho yesterday morning is believed to have been on a special sabotage mission, the target of which was Thursday’s Independence Day parade in Jerusalem. A military spokesman announced today that two Israeli soldiers, one of them an officer, were killed and another soldier wounded in that encounter. Thirteen El Fatah men were killed.
It was disclosed today that the El Fatah carried civilian clothing in addition to large quantities of ammunition, assault weapons, food supplies and first aid equipment. Apparently, some of them planned to mingle with the crowds along the parade route.
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