TWELVE ARTICLES IN AGREEMENT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 7

TWELVE ARTICLES IN AGREEMENT

The agreement consists of 12 articles and a preamble, which says that the injunction of the Security Council against resort to military force in the settlement of the Palestine question shall be scrupulously respected by both parties. Articles I and II emphasise that the armistice is an indispensable step towards the liquidation of the conflict and the restoration of peace in Palestine, and provide that no aggressive action by land, sea, or air shall be undertaken, threatened, or planned against the people or the armed forces of either party, and that the right of each party to its security and freedom from" fear of attack by the other shall be fully respected. Article 111 provides for the withdrawal of the Egyptian force in the Faluja area. The withdrawal is to be completed in five days. It will begin at 5 a.m. (G.M.T.) on Saturday.

Article IV lays down the principle th?t no military or political advantage gained under the truce ordered by the Security Council is recognised and that there should be no restoration of previously-held military positions or changes from those now held except as provided in the agreement. The agreement will not affect any territorial or other claims which may be asserted by either party in Palestine or the area covered by the agreement. Articles V and VI designate an armistice demarcation line. The armistice line provides for a, corridor including the Gaza-Rafah area and running north from the Egyptian frontier to a point about seven miles north of Gaza. The Egyptian forces must? not advance beyond their present positions in this area. The Israeli forces will be withdrawn to the north of the demarca-

tion line, but Israeli outposts, limited to platoon strength, may be maintained in the area at certain defined points.

Article VII provides that the reduction and withdrawal of forces shall apply only to the western front and not to the eastern front pending the conclusion of an armistice with “a third party,” whose forces are in certain sectors involved United Nations truce supervision officials will define the areas comprising the western and eastern fronts. Only defensive forces shall be maintained by the two armies in the areas under their control in the eastern front area,

Article VIII provides for the demilitarisation of the village of El Auja and its surroundings. Article IX provides that all prisoners of war shall be exchanged under United Nations supervision, the exchange to begin within 10 days of the signing of the agreement and to be completed withip 21 days. The exchange will include prisoners against whom penal prosecutions are pending or who have been sentenced for crimes. Article X establishes a mixed armistice commission to carry out the agreement. The commission will also be responsible for locating missing persons, whether military or civilian, within the area controlled by each party. Article XI lays it down that the present agreement shall in no way prejudice the rights, claims, and positions of either party in the ultimate peaceful settlement of Palestine. Article XII says the present agreement is not subject to ratification I and shall operate immediately it is 1 signed.