JEWS’ MISTAKE SPIKED PLANS FOR THREE DRIVES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22655, 4 June 1948, Page 5

JEWS’ MISTAKE SPIKED PLANS FOR THREE DRIVES

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter— Coiiyricht.)

(10 a.m.) LONDON, June 2. An error of over-caution in the diplomatic sphere appeared to have cost the Israel Army a heavy loss of momentum on iwo offensives and the complete cancellation of at least one other major drive, says the Associated Press correspondent in Tel Aviv. Their mistake occurred in issuing eease-flre orders for the night of June 1, They later countermanded these orders but the Arab forces meantime had time to group their strengthened defences in front of Jenin and Tulkarem. Reuter’s correspondent in Damascus says the Syrian Prime Minister, Jamil Mardam Bey, declared that the Arabs had accepted the Security Council s second truce appeal with two mam conditions, namely, the cancellation of partition and the abolition of the Jewish State. He added that the Arabs would not cease fire without the fulfilment of these conditions. The Arabs would guarantee not to let men and munitions enter Palestine during the cease-fire period. According to Reuter's diplomatic correspondent, the decision to prevent Jewish refugees in the Cyprus camps going to Palestine during the proposed truce was made on the authority cf the British Cabinet. Formidable Difficulties The Arabs and Jews 1 ave accepted the four-week cease-fire in principal but, the Times correspondent in Amman says, there are formidable difficulties to be overcome before peace in Palestine is even temporarily restored in fact. It is now, he points out, Count Bernadotte’s task, after consultation with the leaders of both sides, to fix the exact time at which hostilities shall cease, and he will first have to reconcile the differences between the two sides on the meaning of the truce terms. Every hour's delay will make it more difficult to stop the fighting. Arab suspicions have already been aroused by yesterday’s Jewish attacks on the old city of Jerusalem and the Arab commander jn Jerusalem says he now feels at liberty to adhere to his plans and these include the shelling of the Jewish Agency ingEffective machinery for applying the cease-fire and for controlling the extremists on both sides is, therefore, urgently needed, A powerful influence In the Arab decision to accept the truct plan the Times correspondent adds, was undoubtedly the wideness of Count Bernadette's terms of reference The Arabs hope, of course, to persuade him to accept their view that Palestine must not be split but the decision is also significant as a gesture of Arab faith in the United Nations. Arab League’s Wisest Decision King Abdullah of Transjordan said the Arab League's acceptance of the cease-fire in Palestine was the wisest decision in the league’s history. “But we will never accept a Jewish State,” he added, “The Arabs accepted the truce because Count Bernadette is trying to solve the Palestine problem on a just basis.” Transjordan marksmen early today punctured the Jewish dream of seizing a foothold in the old city of Jerusalem before the observance of the ceasefire, says the Associated Press correspondent inside old Jerusalem. They beat off attacks on the Zion, Jaffa and New Gates, claiming at least 20 Jews killed.

An Arab Legion communique says that the Legion artillery shelled the Jews who assembled at two points in the new city and killed 100. Sporadic artillery, mortar and automatic fire was heard in Jerusalem as Jews and Arabs awaited word of the exact time that the cease-fire was to come into force.

The Government of Israel announced last night that it had sent a cease-fire order to all its fighting forces to become effective at 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

The British-controlled Middle East broadcasting station said the Arab Legion blew up the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, says the Associated Press correspondent in Cairo. The broadcast said Jewish fighters had continued firing at the Legion from the university despite warnings by the Arabs through the Red Cross. Whether the blowing up of the university occurred before or after the Security Council's cease-fire deadline was not apparent. Assault on Old Jerusalem

A Jewish triple-column assault on the old city was in progress when the Arab Legion commander received a message from his headquarters at 2 a.m. local time, to be ready for the cease-fire, the deadline of which would be communicated to him later. The Jewish spokesman in Jerusalem declared that the Jews had neither damaged nor occupied any Christian or Moslem holy places in Jerusalem since the war broke out. The spokesman was answering the accusations of the Christian Union of Palestine that Jewish armed forces were violating churches and convents. In Rome Father Zanelli. delegate of the Holy Land in Rome, said the Vatican was studying plans for the formation of a volunteer international Christian militia to guard holy places in Palestine.