EGYPTIANS AND JEWS DISAGREE ON ARMISTICE

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1949, Page 5

EGYPTIANS AND JEWS DISAGREE ON ARMISTICE

LONDON, February 20. The acting Palestine mediator, Dr. Bunche, presented the Egyptian and Jewish delegations in Rhodes with a draft of the new armistice agreement. 4United Nations sources said that the Israelis approved tlie draft completely, but the Egyptians withheld their approval on one clause—the status of Beersheba, which, under thd* armistice agreement, would remain in Jewish hands. The Egyptians referred the disputed clause to Cairo. A United Nations spokesman said: “We will never get. them to agree.” Proposed Terms for Armistice (Rec 10.25) LONDON, February 21. The Jews completely approved a draft of an Israeli-Egyptian armistice which had been flown to Tel Aviv but the Egyptians have withheld approval of a disputed clause on. the future of Beersheba. This is the Jewish-held capital of the Negev. This is stated by informed conference circles at Rhodes Island. It is expected that haggling over Beersheba may go on for a day or two, and it may delay the signing of the armistice until the middle of next week. Main points in the draft are believed to be: —■ . (1) The present front lines, with a few exceptions, wuold be frozen; (2) Almost the whole of the Gaza coastline would remain in Egyptian hands. (3) The Israelis would keep their forces in the Eastern Negev, facing Transjordan, until they had a settlement with King Abdullah. (4) The Faluja garrison would be evacuated, and the city would be taken over bv Israelis.

EAST NEGEV STILL IN JEWISH HANDS • The Associated Press correspondent at. Tel Aviv says.—lt is reported, uncfficiallv. that the Armistice provisions call for the withdrawal by both sides, of their main military forces from the Western Negev only. These withdrawals, however, do not apply to the Eastern Negev,- where the Jewish positions there will remain un a ff e c t ed.