JEWS FIGHT TO OUST EGYPTIANS

Grey River Argus, 19 October 1948, Page 5

JEWS FIGHT TO OUST EGYPTIANS

From South Palestine Border Larger Scale Operations Expected Quickly

(Rec, 10.50). LONDON, October 18. Newspaper correspondents have not been allowed to visit the Negev area, in the south of Palestine, but it is obvious that Israeli columns are ranging far and wide, and that air operations have been extended beyond the southern boundary of Negev.

The Times correspondent at Tel Aviv says that it is believed in Tel Aviv that the present limited Jewish counter-offensive will be extended during the next few days. The. official view here is that the U.N.O. truce machinery has broken down, and that the Israeli army had no alternative but to seize any positions vital to the defence of Israeli settlements. The correspondent adds: “These settlements are surrounded by the main Egyptian force in Palestine. Therefore, this may prove to be a battle for Negev, which is certainly Israel’s covert intention”. LONDON, October 17. A United Nations spokesman in Haifa said Israeli forces to-day launched an air and artillery attack on Gaza, the capital of the new Arab Government for Palestine. United Nations observers were evacuated from Gaza.

Reuter’s correspondent at Haifa reports that the fusion of the Jewish and Arab Communist parties will be formally carried out at Haifa on October 22.

The aim of the united party is defined as “to light for a bi-national State of Palestine”.

Unofficial reports from Tel Aviv state that a Jewish motorised column, with strong air support, fought . its way yesterday to within a few miles of Gaza.

Dr Bundle, acting United Nations mediator in Palestine, proposed a temporary three-day cease-fire order in the Negev to the Israeli Government. The Israeli authorities said they would study it.

United Nations truce observers investigating the Negev fighting, said they were not admitted to many Jewish occupied places, the Jews declaring that the area was mined. The United Nations observers suggested that the Arab civilians be allowed to return to their homes and'harvest their crops before the rains came and that the Egyptians evacuate the Jewish settlement and not improve their positions.An Israeli communique issued in Jerusalem stated that Jewish troops beat off Arabs who advanced yesterday on Jewish positions on Mount Zion.

An Israeli military spokesman in Tel Aviv claimed that the Egyptians had heavily shelled Jewish settlements at Niram, Gvaram and Mekoroth. He added that Jewish planes bombed Egyptian forces in Majdal and Faluja. The spokesman claimed that the Jews had taken an important height in the Negev, after severe hand-to-hand fighting. Dr Bunche conferred with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr Shertok, to-day, in an effort to stop the fighting. Dr Bunche proposed a ceasefire without withdrawing from the positions now held and that all outstanding questions on this outbreak be taken up later. The report of the United Nations investigating team to truce headquarters in Palestine suggests that the fighting started when Jews prevented Arab refugees from harvesting their crops on the Jewish side of the truce line. The Egyptian Acting Foreign Minister, Dr Ibrahim Dessouki Abaza Pasha, declared in Cairo to-night that the fighting in Palestine “ended a few hours ago after the Jews suffered heavy lossep”. The Egyptian Premier, Nokrashy Pasha, issued a statement that the Jews were continuing the attacks against the Egyptian forces, who were replying. The official Arab League spokesman declared in Amman to-day that the Jews violated the truce on a large scale in Jerusalem last night, firing over 200 shells from Mount Zion, and killing three persons, including two civilians, and wounding 15, including six civilians.

ARAB REFUGEES MAY DIE IN LEBANON CAMPS LONDON, October 17. Thousands of refugees living in temporary camps in Lebanon will probablv die in the next few months, unless they get immediate help, said Mr Stanton Griffis, American Ambassador to Egypt, wnen he arrived at Beirut, alter visiting two camps. ‘The United States,’’ he said, “has been grossly negligent in this humanitarian problem. For the first time in American history, we have failed in our responsibilities to help suffering humanity.”