CEASE-FIRE ORDERED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26917, 1 November 1948, Page 5

CEASE-FIRE ORDERED

DISPUTED NEGEV REGION ' i COMPROMISE PROPOSAL UNDER CONSIDERATION N.2.P.A. —Copyright. Rec. 10 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 31. United Nations headquarters reported that the United Nations truce headquarters in Palestine ordered the Israeli and Arab forces fighting in Northern Palestine to cease fire, says the British United Press correspondent in Paris. ' Reuter’s Pfiris correspondent says that meanwhile the Five-nation Subcommittee of the Security Council, with only the Ukraine opposing, approved the French compromise proposal for a three-step establishment of truce lines in the disputed Negev region: First, the withdrawal from positions occupied since October 14 (which affects only Jewish troops); secondly, the establishment of provisional truce lines by the mediator; thirdly, negotiations for permanent truce lines either directly or through the United Nations truce staff with provision for demilitarised neutral rones. The United Nations mediator, Dr Ralph Bunche,' cabled a personal appeal to the Israel Foreign Minister, Mr Moshe Shertok, to accept the ceasefire order. The United Nations Assembly's Humanitarian Committee appoined a 15nation sub-committee, including New Zealand, to investigate the raising of £7,500,000 United Nations Fund to rescue 500.000 Palestine. Arab refugees Britain, the United States, Belgium, and the Netherlands urged immediate aid, and proposed that the fund be raised by voluntary contributions from United Nations members. The subcommittee will draw up a programme for raising the fund. Fighting has flared up on the Northern Palestine.front with the Jews attacking the Arab lines in the Lebanese sector, according to reports reselling Haifa from United Nations observers. Reuter’s Jerusalem correspondent says a neutral source quoted by the Hebrew evening newspaper, Davar Yerusholayim, stated that Arab forces at Haberon, a major town 2o miles south of Jerusalem, had surrendered. Neither the Israeli Army nor United Nations officials could confirm the report, which caused great excitement in Jerusalem. An Egyptian War Ministry spokesman stated that the Jews yesterday continued to attack a number of Egyptian positions in Palestine, but he claimed that the Jews were repulsed with heavy losses, says Reuter’s Cairo correspondent. The correspondent said the Arab League Council yesterday opened its ninth session at which the All-Palestine Arab Government established at Gaza was formally admits a.