Jews Seek U.N. Aid In Forming Militia

Northern Advocate, 13 January 1948, Page 5

Jews Seek U.N. Aid In Forming Militia

NEW YORK, Mon. (10 a.m.).—Mr Moshe Shertok, head of the Jewish Agency’s political department, said today that he was asking the United Nations Palestine Commission for authority to arm and finance a Jewish militia of 15,000 to 20,000 in Palestine. He has just returned from a flying trip to Palestine and added that he was also requesting the early establishment of an international police force to maintain order in the Holy Land.

‘•We believe the United Nations can put us on our feet militarily, and establish international force,” he said. "It is inconceivable that the organisation should do neither.” Mr Shertok criticised the British Administration in Palestine for searching Jewish convoys and confiscating Jewish arms.

This policy was crippling the Jewish defence force and virtually helping the Arabs.

British Wounded

Seven British soldiers were wounded, including three seriously, when British infantry exchanged -fire with Arabs at an Arab village near Jerusalem, says Reuters correspondent. Three Arabs were killed. The Arabs fired on a British search party. A British constable was shot when a Jewish taxi attacked Haila yesterday, and died. Another constable was wounded. British troops, with armoured cars, occupied the Jewish suburb of Mekor Haim following a number of explosions and new outbursts of firing. No Answer

No ' answer has yet been received from Syria to the British representations, says the correspondent of The Times. The raiders’ entry into Palestine was, perhaps, a precipitate step by the local leader, because it has been generally accepted that the Arabs wish to bide their time until the British have left Palestine. The resolute British answer to the raid has impressed the Jews. This, the correspondent says, is saying, a great deal.

The Syrian Premier (Jamal Mardam Bey) is reported as saying: “We in Syria are doing our duty completely. The world will soon sben the Arabs rise as one man.”