1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 i 2 | Ret*Fb 371/121773 364-55 Piease note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your ijse of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
British Embassy, Tel Aviv. RESTRICTED March 12, 1956, 1033/56
Dear Department, We give below our usual weekly list of border incidents. As you •will notice, the majority of incidents are still occuring in the area of the Gaza Strip. '^'here have, however, been two incidents during the past -week on the Israel-Jordan border, one of which resulted in loss of life on both sides* Incidents reported by the Army Spokesman: March __ A group of four infiltrators wearing rubber boots broke Ta'ashur into the Moshav and stole six white goats as well as Gaza Strip irrigation pipes. Police and a tracker found the stolen Sector property near the Gaza Strip next morning. The infil- trators escaped over the border. March 5 At dawn an -^sraeli army patrol met a squad of armed Hatzerim Egyptian scouts in the area, which is 30 km. from the Area. Negev nearest Egyptian territory. In an exchange of fire one scout was killed and two captured. Various papers were found on them. The sguad are believed to have been sent into Israel for espionage and sabotage purposes. Israel has complained to the M.A.C. 4 March 5 In the morning an Egyptian position opened machine gun Kisufim fire on an Israeli post, which returned the fire. After Gaza Strip a few minute's the Egyptians started mortar fire which, with interruptions, lasted for over an hour and a half. There were no Israeli casualties. Israel has complained to the M.A.C. March 5 At 15*00 hrs. Syrian positions opened A.A. and machine Dafna Area gun fire on an IsraeUU.scout plane flying near the settle- Syrian Border meat. The plane was hit and had to make a forced' landing in a field near the settlement. One of the two crew was slightly wounded by shrapnel. Israel has complained to the M.A.C. March 6 At approximately 05»i4-0 hrs. an I.D.P. jeep hit a mine ai Yitzhak inside Israeli territory. One soldier was severely Gaza Strip wounded and later died, Israel has complained to the M.A.C. March 8 An Egyptian position opened fire, about noon, on an Israeli Kisufim post, which returned the fire and suffered no casualties. Gaza Strip March 9 At noon an Israeli patrol vehicle struck an Egyptian laid Nir Yitzhak mine in the area. Two Israeli soldiers were slightly Gaza Strip wounded and the vehicle damaged. However it was able to continue on its way. Another Egyptian mine was found after a search of the area. March 9 In the afternoon an Israeli patrol found a group of Be'erl" Egyptian infiltrators whd had penetrated Israeli territory Sector and were reaping fields in the area of the settlement. Gaza Strip The patrol opened fire and drove them over the Armistice lines into the Gaza Strip* Levant Department, FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.I. 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 i 2 Rof, To 37// 121773 864-55 Pl6£iise note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
March 9/10 Jordan infiltrators shot dead a member of the settlement Hartuv One of the infiltrators was killed by the Border Police Jerusalem in the subsequent chase. Corridor Jordan Border March 10 In the morning Egyptian positions opened rifle fire at Kisufim Area Israeli posts in the area. Sporadic firing continued Gaza Strip all morning and was renewed in the evening* On several occasions Israeli posts returned fire. There were no Israeli casualties. March 11 In the morning an Israeli patrol spotted four armed Lachish Area Jordan infiltrators. U/on being approached the Hebron Sector infiltrators opened fire, which was returned* Three Jordan Border infiltrators were captured, the fourth escaped over the border. At about the same time a second group of Jordanians entered Israeli territory and fired on the patrol, which returned fire, when the infiltrators fled across the border. There were no Israeli casualties. March 11 In the afternoon fire was opened from the Syrian side Lake Kinneret of the lake on an Israeli fishing boat. There were no Syrian Border casualties. Incidents reported by the Press Unofficially; March Infiltrators stole two mules and a horse Beit Hag ad i Gaza Strip March 5 Infiltrators stole a horse and mule, valued at IL.1500 Shuval IV Northern Negev March 5/6 Infiltrators stole spices worth IL.25 Givim Dorot Gaza Strip March 6/7 At midnight, while settlement members were attending a liatzerim cinema show, infiltrators entered living rooms and stole clothing. following the cinema performance the settlers saw their rooms in disorder and, turning on a searchlight, saw three or four Arabs running away. Efforts to catch them failed. March 7 Egyptian positions, in the morning, opened automatic Be'erl fire on an Israeli post in the area. ^'ire was returned. There were no Israeli casualties. March_11 Egyptian patrols twice opened fire on an Israeli post in Kisufim the area. Fire was returned. There were no Israeli casualties.
We are sending copies of this letter to the regular recipients. Yours ever,
CHANCERY 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I To 371/12.1773 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
British Embassy, Wiv« CONFIDENTIAL 'larch 19, 1956* 1033/56
Dear Department, We give below our usual incident report for the week ending March 19» 2. There has been an increase from the previous low level in the number of incidents on the Jordan border and one fatal casualty has occurred on each side. Along the Gaza Strip incidents have continued almost daily and one fatal casualty was reported. Incidents reported officially by the Army Spokesman;-
March 11 In the afternoon Egyptian shepherds, with their flocks Kisufira penetrated into Israeli territory near the settlement. Gaza Strip On being fired at by an Israeli patrol, the shepherds fled back to the Gaza Strip.
March 12 On four occasions during the day an Egyptian position Kisufira fired on an Israeli post* i'ire was returned, '-there G-aza Strip were no Israeli casualties. March 12 Shortly before noon Israeli tax officials were visiting Barta'a the Arab village, through the middle of which runs the Jordan Border D/L. Rifle and automatic fire was opened on them from across the border. Israeli border police arrived and exchanged sporadic fire until the evening. One Israeli policeman was killed and three wounded. Jordan stated that one Jordanian was killed and two National Guardsmen wounded» March 12 In the late afternoon Jordanians opened fire on a vehicle Magal travelling in Israeli territory near the Kibbutz* One Jordan border passenger was slightly wounded. The fire came from the direction of the border village of Zeita. Marcn Ik In the morning a squad of Egyptian soldiers entered Israeli Nitzana Area territory. An Israeli post fired on them and they with- Egyptian border drew across the border.
March Egyptian infiltrators penetrated into Israeli territory Kir Yitzhak in this sector twice during the day. On each occasion Gaza Strip an Israeli post opened fire and drove them back over the D/L. March 1U A shot was fired from Jordan territory at an Israeli Barta'a policeman on the Israeli side of the village. The Jordan Border policeman was slightly wounaed in the leg.
March In the afternoon Egyptian positions twice opened fire Kisufim on an Israeli post. There were no Israeli casualties. Gaza Strip Fire was returned on one occasion* n!larch 14 In the afternoon Egyptian shepherds drove their flocks Kisuf im into Israeli territory and grazed them there. An Israe Gaza Strip patrol fired in their direction and forced them to withdraw with their flocks over the D/L.
Levant Department, FORBIGH OFFICE, S.W.I. cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I To 37J7 121?? 3 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
March Ik In the evening three Egyptian soldiers crossed into Kisuflm Israeli territory. An Israeli post fired at them and Gaza Strip they withdrew ove r the D.L. March 14 During the afternoon about 40 Egyptian infiltrators Kisufira penetrated two km. into Israeli territory and began to Gaza Strip harvest the fields. When an Israeli patrol approached two Egyptian posts opened machine gun fire on it, i'ire was returned and the infiltrators began to flee over the D.L. At the same time an Egyptian squad crossed into Israel and began firing on the Israeli patrol, which directed fire onto the squad driving it and the remaining infiltrators over the D.L. These may be one and the same incident. March 14 In the afternoon an Egyptian post opened fire on an Nlrira Israeli patrol, which returned the fire, and continued Gaza Strip on its way without casualties. March 14 During the day Egyptians machine gunned an Israeli Kisuf im position near the settlement* Fire was returned, the Gaza Strip exchange lasting for a quarter of an hour. There were no Israeli casualties. March 16 Egyptian positions opened rifle and automatic fire Kisufim on Israeli posts four times in the morning and once Be'eri Area in the afternoon. Fire was returned. Therewere no Gaza Strip Israeli casualties* March 16 In the afternoon groups of Egyptian infiltrators on Nirim Area three occasions penetrated into Israeli territory, j'hey Gaza Strip were fired on by Israeli posts and fled back to the Strip. Gaza March 16/17 Three Egyptians tried to steal a flock from the Moshav. Tidhar The guard chased them and fired, killing one. The ITegev other two fled into the Gaza Strip. March 17 Egyptian infiltrators entered Israeli territory three Kisufim times during the day. On each occasion Israeli posts Be'eri Area opened fire and the infiltrators fled, back across the Gaza Strip D/L. March 17 Egyptian positions twice opened rifle fire on Israeli Kisufim posts in the area* Fire was returned. There were no Gaza Strip Israeli casualties. March 17 A group of ten Egyptians drove their herds onto fields Nir Yitzhak belonging to the settlement. Israeli fire drove them Gaza Strip back over the D.L. March 17 In the afternoon two infiltrators tried to harvest Israeli Kahal Oz fields. Israeli fire drove them back across the D.L. Gaza Strip March 18 In -the evening an Egyptian post opened fire on an Israeli Kisufim position, i'ire was returned. There were no Israeli Gaza Strip casualties* The following incidents were reported by the Press unofficially March 15 A reuter report from Amman stated that an Israeli jet ModiTTn fighter plane caught fire and crashed in No-Man's-Land. Jordan Border An Arab Legion Spokesmansaid the plane had violated /Jordan 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 i 2 Rmti £"o 57// 1 2.1 1- ~3' 3 364-55 Piesise note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
_ f lre Buaaenv e
to
?(e are recipients. cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins T I «./.- R> 371 / 121? 7 3 86455 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
I
British Embassy, Tel Aviv.
IViarcU h 26, 1956, 1033/56
Dear Department,
wa give belwoa^uBua report^ for the week ending ^arcu ^o. to the customary recipient.,.
March 18 In the morning a number of shots were fired by members Beersheba of the Arab Legion and Jordan National Guard at an Israeli (Hebron Road) guard position near where the road crosses the border. Jordan Border There were no Israeli casualties. injured in the evening, March_21 Gvulot 10 km. from the border. Gaza Strip _ KllUt-; , j-n uj..^ . Gvulot were no casualties* Gaza Strip IncidenIncidents repreporte. d by th. e Pres. s Unofficially; March 19/20 Marauders stole IL.i+00 yjorth of clothing from the Kibbutz. Urim, Kegev Police followed the tracks and recovered XL. 2k worth of stolen goods. March 11 - 21 During:: thee period infiltrators harvesteud abouau^u.tu _,w.300, dunarns - - - on-pf barlehnrley in the kibbutz fields--•- -.„.-,,=. n „Track, ooroas so f thmene border, womewomen. Kahal and children have been found leadinrg across the border. Gaza Strip At 01.00 hrs. infiltrators broke into the Kibbutz and _ escaped after an exchange of fire with the settlement Gvulot Gaza Strip guards. Infiltrators entered the kibbutz. "."atchmen opened fire _ when they tried to break through a wire fence. The Urim. Kegev infiltrators escaped without stealing anything. Jordanians fired a shot at an Israeli post on Kr. Zion, Mar£h__2li * in the morning, narrowly missing one of the sentT^es* Jerusalem Jordan Border Lebanese infiltrators crossed into Israel after midnight _ and shot and wounded an Israeli Arab. V/hen fire was I'rribin opened on them, they retreated back across the border. Lebanese Border. Yours ever,
CHANCERY
LeVant Department,
FOREIGN I cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I Rof.: Fo 371 / 12177-5 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
British Embassy, Tel Aviv. RESTRICTED April k, 1956, 1033/56
Dear Department, We give below our routine report on border incidents for the week ending April 2. Incidents'Reported Officially by the Army Spokesman March 28 Egyptian forces twice, in the morning, opened machine gun Nitzana and mortar fire on an Israeli position in the D/Z* Fire Egyptian Border was returned. There were no Israeli casualties. A Cairo radio version claimed that the engagement lasted three hours and that the Israeli forces, up to the time of the announcement, had not yet completed a count of their dead,. March 30/31 A police car was ambushed while on its way through the Umm-el-Fahm Wadi Ara, near the Arab village on the border. The vehicle Jordan Border was hit several times, but there were no casualties. Shortly afterwards a civilian tender was attacked at the same spot. One passenger was wounded* Police reinforce- ments searched the area and found empty sten cartridges and tracks of several persons leading towards the .Armistice lines, The following incidents were reported by the Press Unofficially March 25 Pire was opened from Jordan positions on an Israeli position Ben Shemen M.S. of the Settlement, Shortly afterwards a squad of Jordan Border Legionnaires crossed the Armistice line into Israel and also began shooting at the Israeli post. There were no Israeli casualties. March 26 Egyptian forces opened rifle and light machine gun fire, in the morning, on an Israeli position 1 km. inside Israeli Egyptian Border territory and the D/Z« './hen fire was returned the Egyptians used 81 mm, mortars and the exchange continued intermittently for three hours. There were no Israeli casualties. March 2? An Arab Legionnaire on the Old City Wall fired one shot Jerusalem into Jewish Jerusalem, slightly wounding one man and one Jordan Border boy. March 28 One Egyptian was killed and two wounded when a group of 10 Kisuf irn Egyptians drove a large herd of cattle onto Israeli fields Gaza near the settlement in the afternoon. The infiltrators machine-gunned an Israeli guard position, which returned the fire. The Egyptians fled over the border into the Gaza Strip, taking their cattle and casualties with them. March 28 Egyptians penetrated into Israeli territory near the settle- Nir Yitzhak ment to graze their cattle. In an exchange of fire which Gaza Strip ensued, after they had opener] machine-gun fire on the Israeli guard and which lasted, for about 10 minutes, three infil- trators were wounded,. The Egyptians returned across the A/L leaving behind an Arab boy who was taken prisoner. There were no Israeli casualties. A mine which had recently been laid was found near the settlement.
Levant Department,
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.\i.l. cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 371/121775 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
March 51 In the afternoon a group of Egyptian infiltrators Nahal Oz crossed the border to harvest lands near the settlement. Gaza Strip Israeli forces which approached the spot ?jere attacked by machine gun fire from Egyptian positions.. The patrol returned the fire and in the exchange several infiltrators were hit. The remainder fled across the lines into the Gaza Strip, taking their wounded with them. We are sending copies of this 'letter to Chanceries at Beirut, Cairo, Amman, and Damascus and to H.M. Consulate- General at Jerusalem.
Yours ever,
CHANCERY 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 I 2 ™, Fo 371/121773 86455 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
British Embassy, v ~ - Aviv. . * RESTRICTED IMMEDIATE April 9, 1956.
1033/56
Dear Department, We give below our incident report for the week ending April 9* V/e are copying this letter to the customary recipients, Incidents reported by the .Army Spokesman: April...2 wirirn At dusk a three-man Israeli patrol was attacked near the Gaza Strip settlement. Two Israelis were wounded, one seriously. A squad of Israeli soldiers who came up to relieve them were subjected to heavy fire as well. Of the original patrol two men managed to get back. The third seriously wounded man was left in the field. Later a search of the area, just before dawn found the man's dead. body. lie had been killed by a burst of fire apparently at close range. He was lying 800 metres inside Israeli territory. Tracks of the attackers led towards the Armistice lines. Anril 5 (a) 08.30 hrs* an Israeli infantry patrol in the Kisufira area Gaza Strip was fired at with rifle and machine gun fire. l-'ire was returned, the exchange lasting for 20 minutes. (b) Oa.25 hrs. A similar fire fight developed in the same area (c) 10.15 hrs. Egyptian infiltrators penetrated into the Be'eri area. An Israeli patrol opened fire and the infiltrators withdrew into the Gaza Strip (a) 11.30 hrs, Egyptians fired on an Israeli patrol in the Biefalsim area. Fire was returned, the exchange lasting for 20 rains. (eN 12.15 hrs. kachine gun fire was opened on an Israeli patrol in*the Xisufim area from Egyptian positions. Fire was returned, the exchange lasting for 30 mins. (f) 13 35 hrs. The same Israeli patrol came under machine gun fire from Egyptian positions. The Israeli patrol was pinned down by fire in an open field. In order to extract them Israeli artillery fire was opened on the Egyptian positions. (g) 15.00 hrs. The Egyptians opened 120 mm. mortar fire on Kisufirn and Ein Hashlosha (h) 16.30 hrs. Egyptian 120 mm. mortar fire opened on Fahal Oz and Yagev (i) 17.10 hrs. Egyptian. 120 mm. mortar fire opened on iirim (j) 18.00 hrs. Renewed mortar fire on Fahal Oz
(k) 18.15 hrs. Renewed, mortar fire on Klsufim area Israeli artillery replied to the mortar fire in (g) to (k) above. Some rounds fell near Gaza. Later U.K.. observers reported that 85 x 120 mm. mortar bombs fell on the town. /rru Levant Department, lI ^ , $ •vr -1 • 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 i 2 I Km* Fb 37t/ I2177S 364-55 Piease note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your ijse of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
(2)
April 5 (cont '3) (m) In the days activity four Israeli soldiers and two civilians were wounded, one civilian seriously. The Egyptians announced U2 Egyptian civilians killed and 103 wounded. Wine Egyptian soldiers were wounded. numbers of killed were later given as 61. April .6 At 08,15 hrs, Egyptian positions opened fire with heavy Kisufim machine guns on an Israeli patrol in the area. Gaza Strip April 6 An Israeli patrol in the area was fired on from Egyptian Be'eri positions. Gaza Strip April 7 At 07*30 hrs, Egyptian rifle and machine gun fire was Kisuf1m opened an an Israeli position. Fire was returned. Gaza Strip April 7 At 09.10 hrs. Egyptian positions opened rifle and machine Mefalsim and gun fire on Israeli positions. An hour later there was a Erez Areas - renewal of shooting. Fire was returned. Gaza Strip April 7 At 1U.30 hrs. an Egyptian position opened medium machine gun Nahal Oz fire on an Israeli post, Fire was not returned, There Gaza Strip were no casualties. April 7 At 16.00 hrs. an Egyptian position fired at an Israeli Nirira patrol, i'ire was not returned. There were no casualties. Gaza Strip April 7 (a) 21,00 hrs* A number of Israeli vehicles were shot at 10 kms Gaza Strip South of the Paluja cross roads. Several persons were wounded. T (b) 21.30 hrs. Grenades were thrown into Kibbutz T itzanim accompanied by shots. Grenades were also thrown into tractor sheds nearby (c) 21.UO hrs. Water pipes between Ashkelon and Yad i.ordechai were damaged. The pumping station was also sabotaged. (d) 21.!iO hrs. A pedestrian on the way to the Ashkelon transit camp'was shot at and wounded. (e) 21.50 hrs. An Army truck on the road Beersheba-Faluja was fired on. Two men were slightly wounded. 21 50 hrs. Two civilian trucks on the road Falu.ja-Iraq Sweidan were fired on. Several persons were wounded, some seriously. . (o-) 22.00 hrs. A civilian tender North of Shuval was attacked with automatic fire. One person was killed and one wounded. 22,15 hrs. Hear Ahuzanu A civilian car was fired on. three of the occupants were wounded and the car set on fire, (i) 22 15 hrs. 3 kms South of Auja a car ran into a road block and was fired on. One man was killed and two wounded. (j) The railway line to Beersheba was blown up.
April 8 At 00 01 hrs. a grenade was thrown into a house in Ashkelon, One woman was killed and two persons seriously wounded. Ashkelon 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 I 2 ™- To 571/12177-3 36455 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
(3) April 8/9 The settlement of Ke/ziot in the Nitzana area was attacked Gaza Strip with grenades and automatic fire. One Israeli was killed and three wounded, one seriously, (b) X~,rth of Yad Liordechai, a well was blown up. April 9 Early in the morning one Fedayin was killed and one captured. The following incidents were reported by the Press Unofficially iviarch 31 In the afternoon fire was opened from Jordan territory on an Wadi Ara Area investigation team, including a U.K. observer, when it Jordan Border approached the border* The team was following the trades of infiltrators who ambushed two Israeli vehicles the night before. (Summary week ending April 2 refers). Only when a U.M. observer in Jordan arrived at the spot was contact made with the Jordan investigators. .Tracks of three persons were found crossing into Jordan. April 2 Reports from Amman, quoting "Arab Legion Sources", claimed Abu Deir, that an Israeli patrol entered Jordan territory at 03.15 hrs Jordan Border and engaged in a 15-minute grenade and machine gun battle (Jordan side) with Arab Legion troops during which an Arab soldier was killed. Israeli ^'oreign Ministry have stated that there is no truth whatsoever that Israeli forces were involved. They also state that U.K. investigations, far from finding any evidence of Israeli participation, can find no evidence of any clash having taken place at all. The Ia.A.0. refused an investigation. April k In the afternoon an Israeli patrol was attacked with rifle, Kisufim machine gun and mortar fire from Egyptian positions. The Gaza Strip patrol returned the fire which continued intermittently for four hours. Two men of the patrol were killed outright and a third, who was wounded, died on the way to hospital. In order to extricate the patrol artillery fire was directed onto the Egyptian positions. April 6 At 15*50 hrs. fire from Jordan was directed on a group of Gesher settlement workers in a banana plantation. The workers Beisan Sector took shelter One man was hit in the arm and leg. Half- Jordan Border an-hour later fire from Jordan was opened on settlers building fortifications. TTo one was hit. April 6 Jordanians fired on watchmen guarding the dam on the Jordan, Naharayim There were no casualties. Beisan Sector April 6/7 The Syrians trained searchlights on two Israeli fishing boats Lake Kinneret and opened fire. The fishermen were forced to abandon their Syrian Border nets. April 3 Jordan claimed that two rational Guardsmen and two Israeli Petra soldiers were killed in a clash near the village, about 15 km Jordan inside Jordan. The Israeli Army deny all knowledge of the incident. U.K. observers are investigating, April 8/9 (a) A c:/clist on the road Zichron Ya'acov - Yoqne'arn was shot at and wounded in the leg.
(b) Grenades were thrown into a house in ;,..0shav ohafir. A boy was seriously wounded, ^iKQ
(c) 00*30 hrs« Marauders threw a grenade into Kibbutz Gal-on. One woman was wounded. (d) Marauders entered i,ioshav I.iasnot - Yits-Haq and three grenades into the village, CHANCERY. 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 I 2 Ret* Fb 57// 121773 Si455 Piea:se note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your iJSe of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
British Embassy, Tel Aviv. •o -i .^ o T1 "D T '"* rn "iv " Oi\j jQ J. X\-± L/UJJti April 16, 1956, 1033/Sub/56
Dear Department, We are giving below our weekly list of border incidents. We are copying this letter to the regular recipients. Incidents Reported Officlall_;jM^..the Army opojcesman April 9 A TDOlice car was shot at. One policeman was B 3. of Beer- Sheba April ,9 At 20.1+5 hrs. a command car was shot at. One occupant Beit Re' im was killed and one wounded. Gaza Strip April 9 A tractor driver was shot at and wounded. Fear Yagev April 9 A doctor in his jeep was shot at by machine gun bullets. Kfar ivlenahem He put on speed and escaped without injury. April 9 V/ater pipes were blown up at 13»25 hrs. K.V;". Mishmar Hanegev April 9 A jeep was shot at at 20.10 hrs, -here were no casualties Near ,-iastina April _.9 A water pipe was blo'wn up at 21,00 hrs. Near Beit Re'im Gaza Strip April 9 A watchman was shot at at 22.k5 h^s- He was not hit. Gilat Ap_ril 10 At 00.45 hrs. a water pipe was blown up. Near Be'eri Gaza Strip April 10 At 00»i|5 hrs. a water pipe was blown up. Beerotayim Nitzana D/Z April 10 In the morning an Israeli patrol made contact with a gang N E. Beersheba of infiltrators 15 to. N.-. Of Beersheba near the Jordan Border, In the ensuing exchange of fire one Egyptian was killed and one captured, April 10 In a morning clash an Israeli army patrol killed one Lachish Area infiltrator.
April 10 In the afternoon, three Israeli soldiers were wounded, one Kisufim seriously, when their vehicle struck two mines in the area, Gaza Strip A-pril 10 In the morning an array command car struck a mine near the iviagenKibbutz. There were three casualties. Gaza Strip. / •«• / Levant Department, FOREIGN OF.7ICE, S.17.1. April 10 Water toners and pipes were blown up before dawn at K & W Kegev Gvulet, Tekuma, Tsor Maou, liagen, and )\lr oz. April 10 An. electric pylon was blown up. Gvar Am G-aza Strip April 10 The newly completed Tel Aviv - Beersheba railway line Beersheba •was blown up in. two places. One 3 km. N. of Beersheba where 1+00 metres of track was ripped up arid one 5 km 1M» of Beersheba where 200 metres was destroyed. April10 Shots were fired on the 1'ibbutz. There were no Zikim casualties. Gaza Strip April 10 YJatchmen were fired upon with automatic weapons. There Mivtahlm m'ere no casualties. Gaza Strip April 10 An Israeli mosquito aircraft over the settlement was Kahal Oz fired at from Egyptian positions. It was not hit. Gaza Strip April 10/11 Fire was opened on an Israeli patrol, in the area. Beit Guvrin Jordan Border April 10/11 I;1ire was opened on workmen at a reservoir near the "Kf ar Silver settlement, Fear Ashkelon April 10/1.1 l.Iembers of the Kibbutz working near the fishponds were Sfle Ell aim fired on. There were no casualties. Tracks led to Jordan Border the Jordan border. April 11 About Lj.0 youths and children of the Ghafriv Agricultural Hear Ramie School were in the synagogue when marauders entered and opened fire with automatic weapons and threw grenades. Three boys aged 13, 15> and 20 were killed, two others later died of wounds, and four were seriously wounded.
April 11 A husband and wife and their one year old child were Ahisarnech injured when a grenade was thrown into their house. Sarnie Area April 11 A policeman was wounded by automatic fire on the road. IT ear Lydda. April 11 Later in the afternoon a grenade was thrown at two Gan Yavne workers on their way home* They were not hurt. April 11 In the evening two civilian buses were fired on. nix Tel Aviv - passengers were slightly wounded. Ramie Road. April 1.2 Two Egyptian Vampires penetrated Israeli air space and Avdat were intercepted by two Israeli planes. One ^tryntian Negev Vampire was shot down. The pilot was bs/'ly wounded and' taken prisoner. The nlane came down 30 km. r'rom the-- Egyptian border.
April 12 Rifle and machine gun fire was directed at an Israeli "irez position in the area, in the afternoon. Fire was Gaza Strip returned* There were no Israeli, casualties. April 12 A cache of explosives was found, buried in the ground Shalva near the railway* 1 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 -| 2 I ff«i*Fb 371/121773 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet
in1 1 the moshav and near & J- -
-roes t,« Arab ana n-. , . ,,ere 3aba Area « . here travellinc «S openea on a P vehicle AutomatiMoc t 3ll -& AHJiJJ near ao B«ualt«B. ivieron fire. flea viSien
Gaza c after ao _ •Firez Area his ruse Gaza 3triP
8hB r?£. fire! He *fcen ran t ojne .n the fl9C* *« Jordan ,-, oT .-ir-c'i ';>< 0 01 _. j. 4 ^-.^+i nP'. the alari.i. ,,.;;:'TT ar: lavestl^atioe. police and U.^- ^vr-i-ff i ciaa-J-j.- Ja£S iS2££ EePorie^^^ ^ ^ir rneM. tbi» Arab - ft vVP'J-J-. - 1 -P n Y' P ri B. "aweaiw <"'1' -t"' " e u Hosen rii*"Mva s . eai Jerusale--m submitted a investigating. Yours ever, I PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ____ ^^ 8645S^ British Embassy, Tel Aviv. RESTRICTED April 26, 1956, 1033/56 Dear Department, We are giving below our regular weekly list of border incidents. We are copying this letter to the usual recipients. Incident's reported officiallyJby the Army Spokesman; April 16 The workers dining room in the Quarries nearby was Near Ayaloa damaged and set on fire at 02.00 hrs. when blocks of Jordan Border dynamite exploded. Sight unexploded blocks were found by police and also tracks of three men in tennis shoes, which led towards Latnnn, April 18 At 02.00 hrs. three explosions occurred in the settlement. Lahav At dawn it was discovered that the water pipeline had been Jordan Border blown up. An hour later two Arabs were seen running seme distance away, and Kibbutz shepherds opened fire @n them. An exchange af fire ensued, the Arabs eventually escaping over the Jordan border, April 18 In the afternoon Jordanian farces attacked an Israeli Nehasha patrol. Fire was returned, the exchange lasting for Lachish Area several hours. One Israeli soldier ana one Jordanian Jordan Border National Guardsman were killed. While the clash was in progress another Jordan force entered Israeli territory and fired on the Israeli patrol which withdrew under heavy fire. The Jordanians then towed an Israeli vehicle over the D/L, A M.A.C. investigation established that the Israeli patrol was 150 metres inside Israeli territory. April 19 A group of armed Jordanians, operating within Israeli Beit Guvrin territory, fired on an Israeli army vehicle North of the Area Jordan Settlement, late in the afternoon. Soldiers in the Border vehicle returned the fire and continued on their way without casualties. April 22 In the evening Israeli fishing boats at the Northern end Lake Kinneret of the Lake were fired on from across the Syrian border. Syrian border There were no casualties. 22 fishing nets fell into the hands of the Syrians. There were 15 boats which were 30 metres from the shore. Some even went ashore. April 23 An Israeli patrol was fired on in the morning from a cross Lachish area the Jordan border. Fire was not returned. The patrol Hebron Sector continued en its way. Jordan Border Incidents reported by the Press Unofficially: April 18 An Old City daily paper "A-Dlffa" reported that two Israeli Arab fighter planes attempted an attack 0n a Sudanese passenger territory plane flying over "Arab Territtry" at night. April 18/19 Marauders stole 16 sheep from the Moshav pens. Police Mshon followed the tracks to the Lebanese border and with the Lebanese permission of the Lebanese authorities continued their Border search for 1 km inside Lebanon* They were accompanied by a Lebanese Police Officer and Sergeant. The search came to an end ov/ing to the obliteration ®f the tracks by other herds. The Lebanese have promised to continue the investigation, , •../ 1 I 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 ! 2 Rei*Fb 371/121773 364-55 Piea:Ise note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your iJSe of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet _ Mefalsira - — Gaza Strip April 20 A violent expl.9si.on at the Moshav shattered a water pipe Garen leading to the settlement reserveir at abeut 06.00 hrs, Lebanese Border Damage is estimated at several hundred pounds, Faur civilians, travelling in a CDtnmand cacrr t©© Be'er April 21+ Menuha »n the Eilat road were ambushed and shot dead Ein Yahav and the car burnt at about 18.00 hrs. Investigation Jordan Border shaded that five or six men and three gr©ups had waited in ambush. Tracks led over the J»rdan Berder 600 metres to the East. The Israeli foreign Minister said the outrage bore all signs of anather Fedayin action. Yaurs ever, CHANCERY Levant Department, FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.I. ins 1 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE 1 >rt /• Ref, To 37>/lZ1??3 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and condittons andI that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet V \ i British Embassy, Tel Aviv. RESTRICTED 2, 1956, 1033/56 Dear Department, We are giving below our weekly list of border incidents. We are copying this letter to the regular recipients* Incidents reported officially by the Army Spokesman April 27 An Israeli patrol, in the morning, discovered a group Kfar Aga of marauders reaping grain near the Kibbutz, Upon Gaza Strip seeing the patrol the thieves fled across the border April 29 Infiltrators from the Gaza Strip, early in the morning Nahal Oz entered the settlement fields and began to harvest* A Gaza Strip group of Egyptian saldiers was with them, A member of the Kibbutz, on horseback, spatted them and rode up to chase them off. He was attacked, thrown from his horse and dragged across the border. His body was returned, through the M.A.C., in the afternoon. His eyes had been gauged out and his hands bore signs of mutilation. He had been shot at very close range. Egyptian version. An Israeli policeman was killed in a clash with an Egyptian patrol. He was said to have crossed the truce line in the Gaza area while chasing Arab farmers working nearby, and to have been killed in an exchange of fire with the patrol. April 29 An Israeli soldier was killed and two seriously wounded Nir Yitzhak when their military vehicle struck a mine on a road 10 Gaza Strip km. South ©f the Settlement. The vehicle was destroyed. The road had been inspected for mines only the day before, when none were found. The mine was well inside Israeli territory. April 3Q/ Infiltrators from Jordan tried to penetrate the Kibbutz May 1 at about midnight. After an exchange of fire with the Neve Or Kibbutz watchmen the infiltrators fled over the D.L. Beisan Sector into Jordan. Jordan Border April 30 / Automatic fire^was opened on an Israeli patrol near the May 1 settlement, '^'here were no Israeli casualties. Ein Gev Syrian Border May 1 A K.L.M. Dacota plane, chartered by the Egyptians to do Negev photo reconnaissance was intercepted by an Israeli Air Force plane aver the Maktesh Ramon, well inside Israeli territory and forced to land at Lydda* A member of the Egyptian Air Force and five Dutchmen in K.L.M. uniforms were on board. It is believed, and admitted by the Israeli authorities that the plane had made a genuine miscalculation of its position. The Egyptian is held prisoner* Permission for the plane and Dutch crew to leave has been given. Incidents reported by the Press Unofficially April 26/27 Infiltrators stole 100 metres of water pipes from the 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 I 2 ™.-Fo 371/1217 7-3 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet April 26/27 (Cont'd) Kibbutz, There were traces of four persons Zlklm leading to the border. Gaza Strip April 29 In the morning infiltrators blew up a well Amzia in the settlement, ^he previous night 60 Lachish Area bales of hay and irrigation pipes were Jordan Border stalen. Police found tracks leading to the Jordan border. Yours ever, CHANCERY Levant Department, FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.I cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 364-55 l_ ^_T~o 37l/tZ1?7^___^ ; 3 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet British Embassy, Tel Aviv. RESTRICTED May 10, 1956. 1033/56 Department recipients. Spokesman Incidents reported Bllat Jordan Border ln a ciash between a Jordan Border "•- " — ~ Robbers from Egyptian territory entered Israel in the morning and began harvesting the Kibbutz fields. Members Nahal Oz of the Kibbutz drove them back across the Gaza Strip Gaza Strip border after they had gathered the crop from 10 dunarns of barley, valued at IL.300. Early in the morning a strategically situatdd building in Nezer Issahar, near Kfar Ya'avetz, was blown up by ___ infiltrators from Jordan. The village is k km* from Near Krar the border* The building, made of concrete blocks, had Ya'avetz a concrete block-house on the roof* It was used as an Jordan Border Israeli O.P. during the War of Independence but has been unoccupied for the last two years. Village guards fired at the marauders who disappeared in the darkness towards the border* Later investigations traced the saboteurs as having passed through the Israeli-Arab village of Taiyiba* A curfew was imposed on the village on the evening of 6 May and 100 of the inhabitants were detained, The Itt.A.C. chairman later said there was not enough evidence to condemn Jordan* Gaza Strip r.£$.3tlToVne «as ^urea. or s was flound May__l In Kfar Aza Gaza Strip territory ^ Sh9rtly firim Gaza Strip so .../ - strip 1 2| cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 1 2 ™- To 371/121773 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet Mgy 9 At Op.25 hrs. an Israeli patrol met a marauder from ITablat Jordan one km, inside Israel. When ordered to halt Jordan Border he started to fire at the patrol. Fire was returned and he was killed. The patrol suffered no casualties. The marauder was dressed in a white shirt, grey trousers and tennis shoes. He was armed with a shotgun. May 9 In the morning an Israeli patrol was fired on from Nitzane-Oz Jordan territory. The patrol returned the fire and Jordan Border continued on its way with no casualties* Ma; At 07»30 hrs. a group of Egyptian infiltrators entered Nahal Oz Israeli territory and began to reap fields belonging to GazaStrip the Kibbutz, whose members approached and chased the thieves across the border. At night infiltrators cam^again and harvested two dunams of barley from the Kibbutz fields. Tracks of five persons led to the Gaza Strip. Incidents reported by the Press Unofficially May During the period marauders from the Gaza Strip harvested Nahal Oz 10 dunams of ripening barley, valued at IL.500. Tracks Gaza Strip of the robbers led towards Egyptian territory. doot no one »as hit. May Cairo Radio quoted^ajaJSgyptian Army spokesman as saying Khan Yunis that an Israeli (artned_G) drove across the D/L. The Israeli Foreign/MlnTstry say there is no truth whatsoever Area in this story sind that it is being circulated merely to Gaza Strip offset recent./'Egyptian violations of the cease-fire agreement. / /' Yours ever, CHANCERY cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE Ref.: To 37l/)Zlf?3 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet v British. Embassy, Afrel Aviv. RESTRICTED May 17, 1956 1033/56 Dear Department, We are giving below our weekly list of border incidents* We are copying this letter to the regular recipients. Incidents reported officially by the Army Spokesman May 9/10 Automatic fire wasopened on a civilian car, which Rd* Kfar Saba was hit by 15 bullets. I\To one was injured. Tracks Ramat ^akovish led to the Jordan Border near Kalkilya* Jordan Border May 10 An Egyptian infiltrator from the Gaza Strip was Nahal Oz wounded by an Israeli patrol, near the settlement Gaza Strip He managed to make his way back across the D.L. He had been ordered to halt by the patrol and, when he failed to obey, was shot at and wounded. May 10 At noon a group of Israeli officers in company of Nahal Oz a U.N. observer came across four infiltrators from Gaza Strip Gaza harvesting the settlement fields* At sight of the soldiers the infiltrators fled across the D.L. May 11 Early in the morning fire was opened from the Gaza Nahal Oz Strip at an Israeli position near the Kibbutz. Fire G-aza Strip was not returned. There were no casualties. May 11 At 20.00 hrs, and again at 21.00 hrs. stones were Jerusalem thrown from the Old City at the Church of Notre Dame Jordan Border in the New City. May 12 In the morning rifle shots from Syrian territory were Lake Kinneret aimed at an Israeli fishing boat. There were no Syrian Border casualties. May 13 In the morning an Egyptian position fired several Bin Hashlosha times at an Israeli army vehicle moving in Israeli Gaza Strip territory near the settlement. Fire was not returned There were no casualties. May 16/1? At about midnight the Beersheba railway line was Beit Kama blown up near the settler® nt. The regular passenger Negev service from Tel Aviv to Beersheba was due to start early on May 17. IpCidents reported by the Press unofficially May 10 A UP report from Gaza quoted an Egyptian military Gaza Strip spokesman saying that an Egyptian civilian was killed and a National Guardsman wounded by an Israeli patrol firing across the border Into the Gaza Strip. May 10 A shot was fired in the morning from ^yrian territory Lake Kinneret at Israeli fishing boats on the lake. No one was hit, Syrian border. May 10... Levant Department, FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.I. f 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 1 2 Ret*Fb 37f/|Zn?3 364*55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet IB,- Infiltrators tried to break into a sheep pen in the May 10 Urira morning* They were driven off by watchmen Gaza Strip Infiltrators from Jordan entered the town and stole May equipment and field telephones worth IL«600. Eilat Jordan Border Two Israeli workers were wounded in the afternoon "May Ik when Syrian soldiers entered Israeli territory near Gonen the Kibbutz and opened fire on a group of men* The Syrian Border two men were not seriously wounded. Israel has complained to the M.A.C. At approximately 20.00 hrs. two Israeli civilians May 15. were riding a motor cycle on the Hadera - Afula Nr. Megiddo road when it broke down about half a mile from the Jordan B0rder Megiddo Police station* As they were trying to repair it an explosion occurred on the road a few metres away. They ran towards the police station and were fired on by three men who emerged from the bushes with an automatic weapon. The Israelis suffered slight injuries. Investigation found two live Mills grenades, Sten gun cartridge cases anfl fragments of a mortar shell in the road. The following morning Israeli police and U.K. observers followed tracks to the Jordan border. A U,]\T. team took up the trail which led to the Jordan village of Rummana. Watchmen of the Moshav shot it out in the darkness with what were believed to be infiltrators shortly Lachlsh after midnight. The guards opened fire after Hebron Sector hearing suspicious sounds and their fire was returned Jordan Border Traces of the tracks of three persons were found leading to the J0rdan border. Yours ever, CHANCERY 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 I 2 ™- To 371/1211 7-3 364*55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet British. Embassy, Tel Aviv- GOKPIDEHTTAL March 5, 1956, Dear Department, We have seen a report in "Haboker" that a Jewish "mobilization campaign was launched a fewmonths ago in "four European countries, South Africa and Argentine" in order to obtain manpower for border settlements"in view of the threat of a general war with the Arabs in the Spring". The first volunteers are said to be expected in March. 2. If true this tends to confirm a remark made recently by the Israel I.M.I, that the "Nahal" element in the army which is used for creating and manning border settlements would in future be smaller. You will recall that Mr. Ben Gurion in his speech of January 2 also called for volunteers from within Israel for the same purpose. Yours ever, CHANCERY Levant Department, FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.I. 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE *7To 371/121773 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet V LEVANT DEPARTMENT tnmw. ,r f #' FROM X /l/t C/f » .nj|« |J S ~tfa*% *\~. ^^fevt^rl Received in Registry- l£f , >"^tr«/rre/0* References to former relevant papers MINUTES u a /A (Print) (How disposed of) M*. 0 t^«-J^ (Action completed) (Index) III References to later relevant papers 49371 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 I 2 ** To 37f / 121773 3^55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet ritish Embassy, T elAv iv« SECRET March 10, 1956, 1191/56 y T71CJT3 ' rnp-.- fTA "7 Cj D J. .: l-L O J. I .!.'• *-' « ^ I Sir, \]\ The'Rt. K3n. Selwyn Lloyd, G.B.T" etc., etc., etc., FOR3IGN 0 FFIGS, S/.'.' ,1. 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 i 2 R0lit Fb 37// IZ1773 364-55 Plea se note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet - 2 - trying to defend nearly 600 miles of frontier- can attack and destroy one or more of Us ene turn upon the others. But to be certain of 'auu; successfully is generally held to reouire either O r\ T 7 ft **1 T" *-\ i-\- •-< •? i.-i «.«.__ ^ ._ i i • -j j. •*• "v-* •*• «-« * J. ^^ j. ^ xn o± forces at the selected point or ig against equal or superior number, in equipment and morale. Fai liner it w* a -P n -" " ?f lea<3ershlp might be such that° it gave a fair promise of gaining the same ends by tactical surprise but it is not easy for a nation to be reduced"to relying upon anything so uncertain for its continued existence. In these circumstances the Israel Army is bouna to pay particular attention to equipment and to morale (which in some measure depends'upon equipment),, 3. The air defence problem is equally intractable, any part of the country can be reached from "hosti le" nr^+^L^ a ^ afrcraft in a matter of tens of seco -ids or at most in a few hundreds of seconds. Some interce:o- tions might be achieved by flying Airborne Early Warning patrols, as an aircraft carrier does at sea, jn order to extend the range of radar warning but not to any effect if enemy bombers can fly higher and faster than th« defending fighters. This therefore is also an element in wruch quality becomes of supreme importance and vher- ^e.C|pacity to attack enemy airfields" is a prime means" 01 QO!(jl"lG£i*> k» Although naval problems are less important to Tsrael she could not afford to allow control of her coastal waters to pass to other hands. She would be gravelv embarrassed within a short time by an effective blockade and, if war continued for more than a matter of a few months, could probably be brought to her knees by submarine warfare and the mining of coastal waters, 5. The forces available to meet this strategic problem are described in an Annex to this despatch. Though"large in proportion to the population of the country, well- organized, well-led and inspired by a fanatical devotion, triey are in terras of armament and equipment not capable of conducting a prolonged campaign against the forces wnjch the Arab states are, in theory, capable of putting into the field against them. All available manpower is alre*c!v committed in one way or anotner to defense; there is no untapped source which can be drawn upon if the Arab states increase their regular forces or create reserve ermiep, and Israel's geographical configuration renders her" peculiarly li&le to be overwhelmed by sheer weight of numbers. ° 6« Since it would be militarily such an easy matter to destroy -^srael it is vital to her continued, existence that the Arab countries should never conceive of her destruction as a practical possibility. Once this occurred the necessary co-ordination and training might be set on foot with incalculable consequences. It therefore follows in Israeli eyes that no Arab country must ever be allowed to obtain a temporary moral or material superiority which might lead them to translate their dream of destroying Israel^into terms of a practical and realisable ambition. The V/estern concept of a balance of power in wixieh Israel with the help of the tripartite powers would have nothing /to 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 I 2 **Fb 571/121773 864-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet IT" to fear from the Arab states is anathema to Israel, It presupposes an admission of Israeli inferiority which, in their eyes, would -mean that the fatal rot had set in. Their conviction on this point is reinforced by the belief that, in practice, military assistance from the V.'est would not be forthcoming or at least would arrive .too late, and that the Arabs know this. 7* The same moral ascendancy is also to Israeli eyes an essential ingredient of their border policy. The scale of the problem is illustrated by figures of Israeli casualties quoted by the Israel Prime Minister in the Knesset on January 2 In 1951, 137* In 1952, 1U7- In 1953, 162. In 195U, ISO. In 1955, 258. Again I believe that the key t o the Israeli attitude is a consciousness of their vulnerability to this form of "limited" attack. The length of the frontier has already been mentioned. This makes interception on the border extremely difficult. r.ven If the army were to be diverted from normal peace time training for defense tasks and devoted solely to"the desert and mountain equivalent of jungle-bashing the. tas, would still not be easy. But once an infiltrator has crossed the border into an inhabited, area the task of interception becomes virtually impossible. Once inside the country an infiltrator need expect no serious difficulty in passing himself off as an Israeli Arab or as a Jew from an Arab country. '•'•'he Israelis have therefore resigned themselves to a philosophy of b order control which holds that only the Government and people of the Arab country concerned can prevent an Infiltrator from coming over into Israel on a foray and since both Arab governments and. Arab -oeople are inclined to regard a foray into Israel as a meritorious act the only possible deterrent is fear of t lie consequences. i:o::: lack of effective support In the Security Council or by the Tripartite rowers the Israelis see this deterrent power as lying in their own hands only. 1-or has it been entirely ineffective in the short term. But it is 7\an essential basis of police action against criminals that • jthe -oolice should not have their hands tied by public opinion and. that in the last resort the criminals should not be better armed, and more r*0v.'erful than the police, If may anply thin metaphor to Israel neither of these preconditions for successful police action any longer holds good. firstly Israeli methods have not received public support in tie rest of the world and as a result Israel's hands have become more and more tied, especially by the U.?T. Security Council resolution on January 19, on the Lake Tiberias incident. Secondly the balance of power is shifting so that if it comes to a showdown the time is approaching when there will no longer be any assurance that the policeman will via. 8. Very little infiltration i; in fact go in,--. on prese nt but, if anything, this confirms that infiltration, is less and less the spontaneous action of a dispossessed refugee and more and more a disgraceful act of 9. The ultimate fear of th« Israelis, and it has been confirmed recently in conversation by 4-thV e Israel Director of Military Intelligence, is that when Tigypt considers the time is ripe she will gradually goad Israel into "police" actions which could either progressively destroy the remains of Israel's moral case until she stood c ornpl e t e ly isolated or become the signal for genera !. fighting* In -'the t 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 I 2 R0l* Fo 3?l/ 1Z1773 36 4-55 Piea:se note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your JSe of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet the latter case the Tripartite Powers might be either "unfairly" on the side of the Arabs or thrown into such confusion by the absence of a clear cut issue that they would fail to come to Israel's assistance in. time. The Israelis point out that the advent of jet bombing aircraft to the theatre has made the time factor very important, 10. or all these reasons the Israelis cannot, as have said, acquiesce in the suggested solution of allowing the Arabs to maibtain a local ascendancy balanced, from the outside by the Tripartite Powers. The arguments advanced in favour of this solution as I understand them arc that: (a) the supply o-p adequate arms to Israel would cause irreparable harm to our much more important relations with the Arab states; if Israel were adequately armed, she might attack; the British forces in the area must not be qualitatively inferior to those of Israel in case they had to be used against Israel under the Tripartite Declaration or for the defence of Jordan, (b) if Israel were supplied with adequate arms, the Egyptians and perhaps other Arab states would loo] to the Soviet Union for additional supplies, thus enabling the latter to secure a dominant position in them 11, If these arguments are valid, there is no way of reconciling our present policy with Israel's conviction that peace in the area can only be ensured by allowing her to obtain sufficient arms of sufficient quality to maintain her now precarious moral -superiority. sh o r t, a s e 111 c me n t o f the whole Arab-Israel spute is the only solution to this political and military dilemma* 12. Even in negotiation for a settlement the1 Israelis would still, am retain r.heir belief that Arabs and Arab governments only res-.ond to force or a threat of force. One of the roles of the Israel Defence -^orce is to oreste a •position of strength from whi-: rael Governmen could afford to tr to negotiate an acceptable settlement. T 1- ti -. little doubt that this has been an important factor : nercister.t Israel"* cry for arms - o.r,, indeed, it has ably been in the reluctance- of the Western Powers to them. I am sending copies of this despatch to Her -ajesty's representatives at Cairo, Amman, Damascus, Bagdad, Beirut, PaSis and Washington and to the F>litical Officer, Middle Bast Forces. I have the honour to be, With the highest r espect, Sir, Your obedient Servant, I cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ms I Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet EGRET ANNEX TO DESPATCH NO. 37 OF MARCH ID. ISfiAEL DEFENCE FORCE The Israel Defence Force is responsible to the Minister of Defence (at present Mr. Ben-G-urion who is concurrently Prime Minister) through a General Staff. The two principal appoint- ments in this are held by Army Officers. Major-General Moshe Dayan the Chief-pf-Staff is ij.0 years old and has had operational experience, as a Brigade Commander during the Arab invasion in 19U8 and also in support of British forces in 1941 in Syria where he lost an eye. Brigadier -"askov, the Deputy Chief-of- Staff, is 37 and is an experienced Array officer. He has also commanded the Israel Air Force for a brief period. 2, Israeli General Staff work gives an impress! on of efficiency especially in the sectors of intelligence, security and mobilization. On the army side so far as one can judge from the small scale operations undertaken last year training and operations are also more than adequate. However, in all three services supnly and maintenance stocks are complicated by the variety and obsolescence of a high proportion of front line equipment, and in the airforce and navy training and control are largely untested and may be unequal to battle conditions. Although airforce standards are probably better in this respect than the Havy's, the air defence problem is a particularly /part exacting one as any/of the country can be reached from "hostile" territory in a matter of tens or at most a few hundreds of seconds. 3« From such a staff one can expect a reasonably well-balanced and efficient fighting machine but traditional reliance on the army and the difficulty of obtaining modern aircraft has led to some weakness in the air and particularly in air defence. The Navy is the Cinderella of the three services. iu The array is organised on the lines of a comparatively small active army, made up of a small cadre of regulars and an annual intake of conscripts, and a large reserve army, which is called up annually for training. Of the annual intake of 20,000 conscripts about 6,000 are employed as solo ier/'farmers in particularly exposed border settlements as part of an organization called Nahal. 5. Israel is a country ideally suited to the reserve system. She is small, which makes mobilisation simple and quick. Because of the organisation which went into the creation and development of the state, industry and commerce are closely supervised and controlled by the uovernment. Industrial potential can be switched to war ti.se in a manner without parallel in other democratic countries. 6. The strength of the army today is believed to be:- (a) Active Army One armoured and three infantry brigades with supporting arms (one of the infantry brigades may be partly or wholly armoured) One reinforced parachute battalion Two armoured combat teams The active element of ITahal, totalling about 15,000 men, organised loosely into battalions, but not into brigades. 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1| I 2 ™... Fo 371/121773 36^55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet v (b) Reserve Army One, or possibly two, armoured brigades. Eighteen or nineteen infant fry brigades (of which a number may be second line brigades of higher age groups, and not completely mobile; one of the brigades is composed of minorities, mainly Druze) Two parachute battalions The reserve element of Nahal. (c) Settlement Defences All newly established frontier settlements, even if purely civilian, are tactically sited by the General Staff and are grouped together to form defended localities on likely routes of approach into Israel. Settlements within a locality are mutually supporting, and form, in effect, when their permanent defences are manned, forward and reserve company areas. Each such settlement is issued with rifles, L.M.G.'s and rnortars and the settlers do a certain amount of military training. In other respects they are exempt from other forms of reserve liability. Some of the settlements are manned by Nahal units The task of these frontier settlements is to take the first shock of invasion, allowing time for the field army to mobilise in rear. Settlements are loosely organised into battalions of which the equivalent of about thirty-five are believed to exist. 7. The type and variety of equipment is best illustrated by a list of acquisitions in the past year. These are believed to include the following:- 60 demilitarised Shermans ex-U.K. but re-militarised in Prance 40 German Tiger Tanks ex-Rumania. These may in fact be Mk Ill's and IV's. 60 A.M.X. tanks ex-Prance 20 M10 Self-propelled tank destroyers source 6 Sherman flails unknown 20 Panhard Armoured Oars ex-Prance ij.0 Demilitarised half-tracks ex-U.S. 125 Half tracks ex-U.K. 150 half tracks ex-France 21). x 155 mm. Hows ex-Prance 60 x 25 pdrs ex-Denmark 30 x 25 pdrs ex-Canada 21). x 6 pdr anti-tank guns ex-Italy 41 x 3*7 H.A.A. guns ex-Canada 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 1 2 «-uFb 371/121773 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet 4 x 40 mm Bofors A. A. guns ex-Sweden 60 x 37 mm. A. A. guns. Source unknown 500 x 73 mm Rocket Launchers ex-Prance 18000 FN. rifles ex-Belgium 20000 Mauser rifles ex-Prance ShermaPlus ann tanksunknow,n number of French 75 mm guns for mounting in 8, The Israel 'airforce had been confident last summer of its ability to take on the coiubined Arab air forces and was geared to fight if necessary against odds of two or three Vampires to one Meteor, ^'he news of the Czech/Egypt arms deal however dealta heavy blow to this high morale because the Israel air force had nothing which could hope successfully to engage bombersM.I.G.15, fighter aircraft or to intercept IL.28 ( Beagle J jet 9« It is clear that the present aircraft in Israel's air force are of dwindling operational value. Nevertheless when fully mobilized Israel can probably muster 80 jet fighters (all being straight wing Meteors or Ouragans) , 60 Mustangs and Spitfires, 89 Mosquitos and 16 transport aircraft. In normal conditions only 139 of these would be immediately available, and only 63 ajet t4 8aircraf hrs, tnotice and ,129 piston engined aircraft would be available 10, •'•he main emphasis in training is on day fighter tactics and ground attack. The Lleteor and Ou.vagan squadrons are primarily day fighter but are also trained in ground attack. The Liu s tangs and Spitfires are also dual trained but with the reverse emphasis* £'he Mosquitos and Harvards are primarily intended to support the ground forces. The Israel Air Force is virtually a small Tactical Air j. 12« The air force is deployed on three main bases with an Air Headquarters at Ramie which exercises operational control. Two of the main airfields Earaat David and Hats or, are the base of the fighter, ground attack, light bomber and night fighter units. The third JCkron, is the base of a Flying draining School, a transport squadron and a Lainte nance Depot,ann Bugt the year'rss additions to thee servicn ae Laint have e strainenance Depotd thee, storagstoraButge •&&facilitie Maintenancs of ethes Depote airfield. It sm aand the repair organisatorganisa i on'' of •&&availabl Maintenance e Depot. It may well be that funds are not available to equip a fourth airfield with hangars, workshops, quarters and all the other installations required for a self contained peace time station. In addition there is very little of Israel apart from the egev which is both suitable for airfields and outside shelling distance from Arab territory. There are thirteen airfields without major installations in /the 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 •) i 2 f Ret " f~O «f>7f / J2.17?" 3 364-55 Plea se note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet the country to waich the operational squadrons could be dispersed, though five of them are within easy shelling distance of the present frontiers. 13« Recent estimates give a pilot strength at December 1955 of two hundred and fifty two. Independent evidence received recently indicated that the Israel air force can muster at least one hundred and thirty five fighter pilots. From known figures of regular personnel on other units, and making a guess at the reserve, a figure of two hundred and fifty two is not apparently far out. 'Ails covers the strength available at forty-eight hours notice. Nevertheless the recent increase of minimum aircrew service to five years and a desire on- the part of the Air Staff to make the minimum seven years, indicates that the training machine is not turning out as many pilots as is considered necessary and that terms of service are not as attractive as they should be. The training machine is known to be far from perfect. The wash-out rate has been unacceptably high by any standard. For example the graduation in the first week of the New Year consisted of eleven pupils out of seventy starters. l.k* There must also be a manning problem with ground crew. The majority of airmen are conscripts and consequently their training is limited in time to give a reasonable period of productive work. Emphasis is therefore put on making them able to cope competently with a set number of tasks under rather rough conditions. Training courses average a year which gives the service eighteen months from a man. There is no effort at present to encourage long term service as the Air Staff consider that the negligible pay given to conscripts saves so much money that to encourage men to sign on, above the minimum required to fill Senior N.G.fS. posts, would mean cutting down the overall numbers drasti- cally in order to balance the budget. 15» Major overhauls on fighters take about two weeks. This does not include the engine overhaul as the motor is replaced. It is possible that the time could be cut down if there were no spare part problems but if flying times were increased suddenly the present manpower would either be grossly overworked or inspections would go by the board. 16. The spares problem is one of the chief headaches of the Israel air force. Not only do a great many .parts have to come from distant shores, but the variety of aircraft is out of all proportion to their overall numbers. There is constant talk, of standardisation but little prospect of achieving it. 17. The Israel Navy is based on Haifa and at present consists of: 3 Frigates (one in reserve) k motor torpedo boats 3 landing craft (L.G.I.) aid a number of smaller landing craft. Materially, however, this fleet is barely operational. A number of other ships of the same vintage have been written off including Corvettes, two minesweepers and two L.C.I.'a. Some additional ex-British Motor torpedo boats are non- operational and are being cannibalized. One other sank at sea not long ago. 18. Two "Z" class destroyers have been purchased from the U.K. and the Commanding officer of the Navy is hoping, 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 I 2 Ret 61 Fo 37f/ 121773 36 45f •— 'v5X Piea:>e note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your iJSe of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet perhaps optimistically, to have one of them in Israel waters by Independence Day (the 16th of April--). A number of fast M.T.B.'s fitted with Napier Deltic engines are on order from France. 19. The naval staff is reported to be inexperienced and to have little idea how to organize and operate a navy, and this ignorance appears to extend down" to the most" elementary situations, such as single ship, destroyer versus destroyer, actions. Tip and run raids and'very minor, irregular operations appear however to be within their present capabilities. cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 37)/)21??3 86»55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet FROM AMMAN TO FOREIGN OFFICE Cypher/OTP FOREIGN QFFIgE AND WHITEHALL DISTRIBUTION Mr. Duke No. 4^4 D. a 45 a. m, March 15, 1956. March 14, 1956., R. 9. 50 a. m. March 15, 1956. CONFIDENTIAL Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 424 of Marck 1.4 Repented for information to Tel Aviv P. O. M. E. F Jerusalem and Saving to Bagdad Beirut Cairo Damascus Ankara Washington Paris Since the dismissal of General Glubb and the publicity given to King Hussein1 s contention that Glubb's plan for defence against an Israeli attack was too passive, there has been some increase in aggressive spirit among hot-heads on the West bank. The Legfind tlmt Glubb restrained the Arabs in 1948 from advancing on Tel Aviv and had continued to do so ever since has regained currency. The , Government sponsorship of collections foe the National Guard this week has fostered a feeling of intense nationalism throughout Jordan, except possibly in frontier villages. 2. With the removal of British officers, the rank and file of the Legion are also becoming infected with the general excitement Their officers on the whole profess to be aware of the risk of provoking an Israeli attack and to support the policy of restraint hitharto in force but might be less cool headed in face of an emergency. 3. In these circumstances Israeli manoeuvres, especially those which involve live firing, and patrol activities close to the demarcation line are particularly liable to lead to a major incident In general the frontier is more sensitive now than it has been at any rate for the last two years. 4. I have already urged restraint upon the Jordan Government Her Majesty1 s Ambassador at Tel Aviv may we presume think if worth while to drawrihe attention of the Israeli Government to the dangers involved in the present situation and the need for special care along this fronter. Foreign Offiee pass Tel Aviv, P. O. M. E. F. and Saving to Bagdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Ankara, and Paris as my telegrams NosJBS&nl 189, and Saving Nos. 17, 65, 21, 55, 74, 65 and 105 respectively. -\ Repeated to Tel Aviv and P. O. M. E. F. and Saving to Bagdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Ankara, Washington and Paris. BBB 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 I 2 »* Fo 371 / 121773 864-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet V : AvI - HM i(,v.' < ,>V CAIRO TO FORECT Gypher/O'EP FOREIGN OFFICE SBGRET AND WHITEHALL SESRSJ? DISTOBtglOK Sir H. Trevelymn Bo« 516 B. 12.23 a.ffi. March 16,, March 15, 1956 R. 1.32 a.m. March 16, 1956 $p38S! Addressed to Foreim Off lie telegram Mo. 51.6 of March 15 tepeatedfor Information to fel Aviv Washington P.QJC.E.F, and Saving to Paris Beirut Bamasctts Jeddft My telegram No. 491 s Anas and Recruitment for Israel. Sasser told lay American colleague on larch 14 that there was alf©ady an arms race. The Israelis were getting considerable gjoantltlft-s froa Europe, Including 24 Ouragan and 12 Mystere aircraft from France, 6 Meteors from the United Kingdom and a lot of ara® other than aircraft from various countries. 2, He said that according to the statement of aa Israeli defence official in the Knesset, there uas recruiting for Israel in six European countries, South Africa, and the Argentine, Byroade mentioned that King Saud had told him that the Arabs might accept Moslea volunteers, and asked Nasser for his cosBaents. Nasser replied that if Israel got pilots (he mentioned France) to man the additional aircraft which they were now getting, he might have little alternative to getting pilots from outside. The Arab States had a real problem on pilots, since it took three years to train a goof one. If, therefore, they got aircraft, but the Israelis got aircraft and pilots, he did sot know what he might not have to do* 3. I hope that I may soon have the information asked for in uy telegram tmder reference. My American colleague has told Masser that Israeli recruiting would be Illegal in ths United J|ates. It is apparent that the Egyptians treat this question Seriously and may be expected to get Cowmist pilots if the :Israelis get pilots by recruitment in Europe. It is, of course, possible th&t they are having difficulties in training pilots on l.I.G's and that 4Ms issue is being raised ia to .... 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 I 2 | ** To 37f / 121773 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet saoa Cairo telegram Ho. 516 to foreign Office - 2 - order to justify a decision which they have already taken to recruit Caaraaist pilots. It s«eias isrportant in any case that we should Jmve siifficient inf onsaticn to prevent alleged Israeli recruitment of pilots being used as an excuse for action of this kind. Foreign Office pass to Tel Aviv ana Washington as siy telegrams Hos. 32 and 71 and to Paris as my Saving telegram No, 53* [Repeated to Tel Aviv and Washington and Saving to Paris]. cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE TnT §_.: Fo ^ Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet ICE TO CAIRO DEPARTMSHgAL DISTRIBUTION Gypher/OTP and By Bag. B: 3.30 p.m., March 17, 1956. N®. 635 March 17, 1956, GQWIDBHTIAL nf March 1' jjuvjugptavavt. to Cairo tele.gram .NQj Repeated for information to Tel Aviv and Saviag to Annan No. 111; Bagdad No. 136; Beirut No. 257; Damascus No.136; Jedda No. 127; , Paris No. 1010; Washington No.1247; POMBF No.31I/ Your telegram No. 516 [of March 15: Recruitment for Israel]. Legal position is as follows. Under the Foreign Enlistment Aot, 1870, it is an offence for any British subject anywhere to enlist in the armed forces of any foreign state at war with any other foreign state which is at peaoe with Her Majesty. It is also an offence for any person within British territory to induce any other person to,enlist in the forces of any such foreign state. Neither Egypt nor Israel is at war with this country and neither is in our view at war with the other. The Act would, therefore, not "be an obstacle to British subjects enlisting in the armed forces of either or to Egyptians or Israelis recruiting them. 2, On the other hand we are not aware of any British subjects, as distinct from foreign or dual nationals, having recently enlisted in the armed forces of either country. No doubt Her Majesty's Ambassador, Tel Aviv, can confirm this so far as Israel is concerned. There are British instructors with both the Egyptian and Israeli armed forces but they are on a different footing. 3. I think the supposition in the fourth sentence of your paragraph 3 may well be correct. If Nasser raises th« matter with you you should give him no encouragement to dtvelop his argument. DISTRIBUTED TO: Levant Department African Department uuuu 1 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 I 2 ™.-Fo 371/121773 364*55 I Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet !»!«&& AMMAN M»rch U*t 195* punish infiltr*tor» under tfe» n«w ""* net though* it **** inf llty»tl®ft »» t- (1) 9 of 1939 (li) following AFtiel* i» . **9 (1>4*) to »lg«l»tioi» »o.2 of 1939 s- Sr " p. W«8tl«k« Britl»h t ftt AVIV* t 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 •) I 2 *«, Fo 37f/ 121773 SW55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet (1) in the eta* of the Courts of Suramary JuriBdiotion imprisonment with or without hard lebour for » tena not exceeding si* months or • fine not exceeding £P.10O, or to both such imprisonment and fine; end (ii) la the ease of other Cowta, fenel servitude for lif« or » fins not sisseJing fiP.500 or both th*s* penalties or, in the seas of offences where intention of •eeisting the eneir is proved, death or any less punishment, provided that a® »wh Regulations shall hsvs the effect of diminishing eny powers exereiseble by the High Conmiesioner for Tr»ns -Jordan, or the British Resident or eny persons acting on thsir behslf » or fey officers of any of His Majesty's Heval, Military or Air Forces, or other person* acting on their behelf , and that nothing shell be done under »ny eoch Kogaletion which shell b« pr«- iudicisl to the action of His Majesty's Heval, Kilit»ry or Air Forces. And provided that no flaafeer of Hi« ml****** Mm*. Milit»ry or Air foreet »h»ll h« mib3«et t© th* 3ttri«iiction of »ny Coart in fr»n«-J©r4«n in re«f«et of »ay offences against such Regulations other then e Court M»rti»l «onv»»»d by the Srr»l» Hilitery or Air Porcee Authorities. ar« »p»lie4 to th« District* of Hebron, Jerusalem and Nablua by U»fenc« Ora«r No.lU of 3.952, whieh resia »a follow* t- Defence Or«*r 8©.3^ tv* th« y»*r 1^2 i»«»*« in accordance with artiola (18) of %f*n«* Regulation Ho. 2 of In accordence with Artiela 18 of Dafonc* E*g«l»ti©n Ko.2 of 1939 «*t «JJ«r ?>*;^ anprowl of tt» K«g*ney Ceimcil I h*v« ;at the Mutesaerif s of Jerusalem, Nablua and Hebron to exercise the tower* vested in me »a specified in Artiol* 9 (hi*) of B*f*ne« Regulation Ho.2 of 1939 on the understanding that these powers should be restricted to raatters relating to infiltration, (9gd. ) Tewfic Abul Prims Minister 7.7.1958 published in Official Gazette Ho.1116, Supplement dated 16 July 1952* »**,/3 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE | ins I 1 i 2 Ret*Fb 37l/f217?3 36 4-55 Piea;>e note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your iJSe of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet KT&w«Ai4^bii^tAd£ut«w**^ifiiiiiw.?B**'*_ * ' k» From this you will see that the Muteaaarifo si* « wide measure of leglalature powers to desl with infiltration, although what her they will exercise them in theee changed conditions remains to be seen. General Olubb coa^lainad in the peat that for one reason or another (e.g»t political preaaure, firaily influence) MutcsaBrifa and Kagiatretea were aometimea reluctant to aentenca infiltretore, 5. Z »m sending e copy of this letter to Levant Dapartment. (C.T.Brant) P.S. We have been unable to trace your letter of Beeenber 20 to Haath Meeon on thla queation. We should be very grateful if you would let us have e further copy. i 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 I 2 Ret*Fb 371 / 12117-3 86^55 I Piea:»e note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your JSe of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet British Consulate General Jerusalem , 19. Confidential. I had a talk recently with Terrill, the United Nations Chairman of our local Mixed Armistice Commission, and he gave me the latest news onvarious problems* 2. You will have seen that in the Israel resolution accepted at the 2U5th Emergency Meeting last week (on the £rta'a affair), Jordan was condemned for shootingft.qt.e gali a at em United Nations Observer. The observer in question was Breault, a Canadian officer. Terrill says that while the mortar barrage under which Breault found himself may have been laid without the fact that he was in the waybeing known to the Jordanian officer responsible, Breault was subsequently shot at with a rifle in such a way as to leave no doubt that he was being aimed at. 3. Terrill also told me that a number of shots were fired into the New City on the morning of March 16 by Jordanian sentries on the Old City wall. Fortunately no damage of any importance was done* U.. The MRK331FIsraeli& s appear to have evidence that the infiltratojp killed after the Hartuv murder (our telegram Ho.93 to Sweign Office) was a professional marauder and spy who had been involved in a number of frontier incidents. They seem disposed to think that he had all along been operating under the control of an Arab Legion Intelligence officer. Terrillfs refusal to call an emergency meeting deprived the Israelis of the opportunity of publicising their allegations. 5. Ali Abu Kuwwar is passing on an inordinate number of complaints about overflights by Israel aircraft. Gelletly used to check all complaints very carefully before they were formalised, and used to eliminate some three quarters of those submitted to him. Complaints of overflying may therefore be expected to increase considerably in number. I am sending a copy of this letter to Tel Aviv and to Levant Department. ( w.Wilson ) I. H.H.Mason, Esq., O.B.K. , 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 I 2 / C~C~ I Rel'.-• To 3?f/ 121773 26 455 Piease note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your jse of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet BRITISH EMBASSY,. (1063/W56) CAIRO. CONFIDENTIAL March 22, 1956. Dear Department, In accordance with the suggestion contained in paragraph 2 of Jerusalem letter 1033 of February 22, the Ambassador spoke to Colonel Nasser and Major-General Abdel Hakim Amer on the occasion of the Secretary of State1s recent visit. They were concerned about recent incidents, but naturally not disposed to accept total responsibility, 2. We are sending copies of this letter to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Yours ever, .CHANCERY. Levant Department, Foreign Office, LONDON, 8.1.1. 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ms 1 1 I 2 *«.: Fb S7f / 121773 86^55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet J i_/ FROM l^ &V "T Received in O^—< S >^-t 4 ^= Registry— REFERENCES MINUTES "7U, (Print) (How disposed o •'" I '*?* ft ) IL. JL o t (Action completed) (Index), vv •/11 j 38111 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet r fc) etv~^4\ o 0*4 VJ L . A? I 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 1 2 ffel *Fo 37f/ 121173 364-55 Piea:se note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your iJSe of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet TOP SECRET FROM AMMAN TQ FOREIGN OFFICE. 1 Cypher/OTP REPETITIONS. Mr. Bake No. 50.2- D. 12.48 p.m. March 27, 1956 March #T, 1956 R. 1.5 p*m. March 27, 1956 1M TOP Please pass the following to POMEF as my telegram No. 234 of March 27. Begins. Please pass following to G H Q, Main from Headquarters Arab Legion. Information War Office mnm»mi~—i"™^*"1""""*( Rtctivnjwc.B. \ • AL EL31/ENT. For Stoneley from Friend. Situation in Israel, Reports received during week ending March 24 suggest that all Israel reserve brigades mobilized except 4, 6, 16 and possibly 15. No reports on stand**down since January 1956, Troop concentrations in each command and not centred against any one Arab Sjjate. Reliable source stated further mobilizations expected April 1. /Ijrp- undec ? In the meantime/defence preparations still in progress along the frontier and expected to be completed within two weeks. Israel Press March 24 indicate that present defence expenditure may /grp. undec ? hurry the^ crisis. 2. Comment. Further mobilization Jerusalem and Tel Aviv early in April will complete the programmej unless some reserve brigades stand down, full mobilization cannot continue for lo»g period. Complete readiness for war early in April may be advantageous to Israel as threat bat actual w^ar a possibility. 3. My comment based on mobilization reports and warrants advising Arab Legion General Staff to take counter action. Before taking such action gratefil for any confirmation and comment soonest. Ends. /Repeated to P.O.M.E.Fj7" /Copies sent to D. S. 0. War Qffice7 DDB 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 I 2 R0iKI Fb 37) / 121773 36 4-5i *-' \^5 Piesise note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet mm POLITICAL moi THB HDBLE (ICTGQSXA) TO OTOS1 WAR OFFICE Mr* S hat took 0: 9.36 a.*. March 28, 235 I: 9.46 a.m. Marsh 28, 1956 March. 28, 1956 IMMEDIATE Frwa Mideast Main. Attressed t« Aiaian telegram M». 55602 IRP ©f Mareh 28, repeated for iaftrratita t» War Office (MI 4)« s Fir MaJ®r Frleai fr«w St©nel«y. (^ 'I Aoman telegraa N».25t of March 2? t* P.O.M.E.F. Have m inforaatioa to sulsstantis.te seale of mobilisation suggested by you. Partial mobilisati@E reserve brigades accepted, fcmt this noriial at iresoat seas&a. Actual war always a p®ssiM.~ lity, "^t p»ecauti«BS y©u tesarilxj, if confirmed, w@ult n»t aeoessarily be infiioatisa ©f imineat offensive actiea ^ the Israelis* 2. ®© act consiier Qaaaeat in yoiar paragraph 2 warraats a@ti©a as pr©pts«d y©ur pt-ragr&ph 3. You East definitely seefc advice frtra Her Majesty* s Anfeassafttr Amoan Twjftre giving any views t» the Arafe Legion General Staff. Foreign Office please pass t» AmaH as lay telegram H©. 70* [Repeated to Auaaa]. CCPf Heat *f Levant Departaent 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1| I 2 Rat* Fo 371 / 121773 364-55 Piea:se note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your iJSe of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet V LEVANT DEPARTMENT VRIO?/ c/r No. Dated Received in n -t ' Registry— *-/ References to former relevant papers MINUTES Delayed for papers, which only returned to me this morning. 2. Since writing this letter Sir H. Trevelyan will have received a copy of Tel Aviv telegram No. 1U2 (VR 1091/51 A) in which Sir J. Nieholls reported that no case of the recent enlistment of British subjects in the armed forces of Israel had come to his attention. He will also have received copies of (Print) Jedda telegram No. ?6 and of Foreign Office telegram No. 662 to Amman (both at VR 1073/112). He meanwhile has reported, in his telegram No. ^0k .Saving, that all Egyptian papers of April 2 carried (How disposed of) stories that the Soviet Government was recruiting a number of Russian Moslem veterans for the formation of a Moslem brigade which would be ready to fight on the Arab side if war broke out with Israel. It begins to look as though Colonel Nasser's allegations about Israeli recruitment abroad are merely designed as cover for his own plans for the recruitment of Moslem "volunteers" in the Soviet-Asian Republics. 3. Sir H. Trevelyan has Commonwealth colleagues from Australia, Canada, India and Pakistan as well as from South Africa, and they will be in a better position than we to say what may be going on in their respective countries. And Sir J. Nicholls will be able to report further on the actual situation in Israel. v/ P <7 MCs , .V * ,»....*. *.t«...*TT« k. I submit a draft reply to Sir H. Trevelyan. (Action completed) (p. H. Laurence.) April 5. 1956. References to later relevant papers African Department. FIRST. 49371 ^ 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 1 1 2 ~Fb 37//J2H7S 36455 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet V BRITISH EMBASSY, QQKFIDSHTIAL CAIRO. March 22, 1956. This refers tc/the last sentence of Foreign Office telegram No. 835 on recruitment for Israel* Of course, I shall give Colonel Nasser no encouragement to develop the thesis that he is justified in getting Communist pilots because the Israelis are getting pilots from Europe, but I should like some more material in case this comes up. The Foreign Office telegram implies that some dual nationals might have been enlisted in the United Kingdom. I am making enquiries from my European and South African Colleagues here, but any further information that you can get me that the Israelis are not recruiting in th-e Commonwealth or Europe will be welcome. 2. I am ®opying this to Nicholls in the hope that he can also help me on this one. 3. I am sending this to Jebb, Makins and Shattock t also. J.H.A-. Watson, Esq. African Department9 , Foreign Office, S»W.l. II _2T cms PUBLIC KfcCORD OFFICE »* To 371 Please J2.1773 g ,,«.,. &t«^5^>~ """— Of supply of Public p--- ° - 9- " '" the enC'OSed "— an•d FOREIGN OFFICE, VR. 1091/59 COSPIiaSHTIAI. April 6, 1956 Adam latson has passed me your letter of March 22 about Colonel Nasser's allegation that Israel is recruiting personnel for her ariae^ forces abroad. 2* Para* 2" of our telegrara ?!Q. 83?of March 17 was not meant to Imply that there niay have been some enlistment for the Israel armed forces In the United Kingdom* So far as we know there is none. And in his telegram fto* 1U2 of March 23, which you will now have seen, Jack fficholla confirmed that no case of the nature had coine to his attention. 3» There is on the other hand a. small amount of migration from this country to Israel, &n& no doubt the majority of migrants become Israel citizens, and therefore axial nationals, after arrival. In that ease their master nationality in Israel woultf, be Israeli^ and there could be no valid objection on our part if they were then required to perform the usual conscript service in either Israel's armed forces or in the liahal organisation, which, as you probably know, raans certain frontier settlements. There doe© in fact seem to be some sort of campaign going on in certain countries for recmr.its for the border settlements* .The Department sent your Chancery a copy of a letter froct Tel Aviv about this with theirs of March 17 (VH.1091/U7)* But if this country is one of the four European ones involved, the campaign is being conducted so quietly that we have not heard lt» t suspect that if Sasser has any factual basis for hia assertions about Israel recruitment abroad it may be a misunderstanding of this campaign. It begins to look more and more, however, as though what he really wants is to establish some sort of cover for his own intention to obtain Moslem volunteer® for the Egyptian force® (your telegram !fo* 10U Saving). lu So far a© recruitment in the Goranonwealth or elsewhere in Europe is concerned, I think that the enquiries you are making from your Suropean and Coismonwealth colleagues will be more productive than any i»e could ramke* Bx*t the most effective check is to see exactly what the state of affairs is in Israel, and we look forward to seeing what Jack Kicholls says as a result of your letter under reference. 5. If the question, does come up with Masser I suggest that yoixr most effective line would be to say that we have been unable to find, any positive evidence that the Israelis are recruiting personnel for their armed force® in foreign countries. On the other hand there is a certain amount to suggest that this ia what the Egyptians have in mind, and in particular that Moslem "volunteers'* are already being recruited in the Soviet-Asian Republics* You might enquire, as suggested /in Sir Huiaphrey Trevelyan, KC.r.%, GIF.., OSS., British Smbassy, CAIRO, I 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 ' 2 I R0I*Fb 371/121773 364-55 Piea:>e note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your JSe of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet Hi! -2- s rather tt» « \>A) 1. Hose) 1 2\ cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I 2 To Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet V LEVANT DEPARTMENT FROM H - 4\. No. \QU W(H«L Received in Registry- References to former relevant papers MINUTES //> V h t\ (Pmt) (How disposed of) >lc irC, S'6 (Action completed) (Index) References to later relevant papers 47524 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE I ttef..- f"( thiS 8U |ied sub ect to the p rn^ h K^f PP k J "blic Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use rt ma be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet """"" A SAVING- TBLEGSAM En Clair By Bag. KIOTO FROM CAIRO TO FOREIGN OFFICE Sir Humphrey Irevelyan No. 104 Saying April 2, 1956 UNCLASSIFIED Addressed, .to Foreign Office, tele RraraKo. 104 Saying of April 2_ repeated for information Saving to Tel Aviv No,41 (S), POMEF No.lS^ts), Washington No.lOIf(S)s Paris No. 69 (s), Amman No. 52 (s), Bagdad No. 62 (SJ, Beirut No.?8(S), Damascus No.79(S) and Jedda No.59 (S). My telegram No. paragraph. 3. All papers today reported that according to News Agency reports from Vienna the Soviet Government was recruiting for military service a number of Russian Moslem veterans of World War II preparatory to the formation of a Moslem Brigade which would "be ready to fight on the Arabs' side if war 'broke out "between them and Israel. Russian Moslem war veterans in the republics of Kaaakhjstan, Uzbekistan and Tadzhikistan were called up for military serviee during *he past two months. Moreover the Russian government had transferred its Moslem troops serving vTith Eastern European countries to garrisons in their home republics. Military experts estimated the number of Moslems in theSoviet Union at 20,000,000. The recruits were receiving a tough training course in desert warfare under the supervision of experts. 2. Press reported that according to U.P. the Soviet Government had invited some Egyptian officers currently "being trained in the use of Czech arras in Czechoslovakia to visit Soviet Moslem republics. 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 I 2 **Fb 37//IZ177S 36455 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet FROM JERUSALEM TO FOREIGN OFFICE En Glair FOREIGN OFFICE AND 1HITBIALL DISTRIBUTION Mr, Yfikeley H». HI J>. 9.56 p.m. April 5, 1956 April 5, 1956 R. 10.38 p.m. April 5, 1956 IMMEDIATE Addressed t@ Foreign'Office telegram No. Ill of April 5. Repeated for inf©nmti©m t© Cairo Tel Aviv P.O.M.E.F. UKDel New Y©rk fashingt©a Paris Amman Beirut Damascus Bagdad U.N.T.S.O. has received preliminary report fr©m United Nations ©^servers in Gaza Strip of shelling this afternoon of Gaza town, Deir al Balla village and ©ther localities in Gaza Strip "by Israel artillery and m©rtars. Casualties in Gaza t©wn alone pr©visi©nally estimated as f©rty ©ivilians killed including a aramteer of children and many more w®un ADVANCE Sir H. Gaecia Private Secretary Mr. Shuckferargh Head of Levant Department Heat ©f Af rltui Department F F ? F f cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I '. . To , Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and 1 Condition/"*_M,j:*inn«>s nof ettirM-Jsupplyw nof PnhliPublicr RortnrdfiRecords' leaflet v CONFIDENTIAL FROM. JERUSALEM TO .FOEEIGM QFEtCE Cypher /GTS3 FDaEjKffl .pFJgKgjjS.... .AM P Mr. Wifeefey D. E.28 p.m. April §f 1956 April 5, 1056 H. 1L 51 p. m. April §» 1956 C.QNCTDSNTOL Addressed tQ Fore^ Cfffic^ te|e$ram. Mo. 1^2 of April .5. Repeated for information to Tel Aviv Cairo UKDel Hew York Washington Paris PCMEF s- My immediately preceding telegraiao: Egypt/IsraeL FoEowing is text of letter from Israel Minister for Foreign Affairs received lay General Burns today. Begins I write to ask whether you can see any justification whatsoever for opening of machine gun and mortar fire by Egyptians, from entrenched and fortified positions, on a regular Israeli patrol moving perfectly inoffensively on foot along its measured beat on Israel side of the armistice line? You will be aware that this blatantly aggressive action yesterday cost us three young lives and that it was only Icy the use of artillery fire that we were able to extricate surviving members of the patrol from what had become a death trap. I should appreciate being informed as to what steps you contemplate taking in order to prevail upon Egypt to put an immediate end to this murderous and monstrously provocative behaviour. Ends. 2. Letter requested Burns to call at the Ministry at 1700*hours. He did so and saw Mr. Sharrett who made the following points: (a) Israel holds the Egyptian Government and particularly its heads responsible for the situation since they refused to issue I'-''- Overall cease fire orders. Reaponsibility must be placed squarely United Nations on Egyptian Premier for not issuing order. 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 •) I 2 ™, To 371/121773 36455 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet .Mo.. 112. to Foreign •2- (b) Egypt ia«5t be warned by United Nations of the grave consequences to which her behaviour may lead. (e) While Israel does not want the situation to deteriorate further it must reserve Ml freedom of action in self defence for protection of life of its soldiers and security settlements. 3. Sharrett told Bums that he had approached, no foreign diplomats and indicated that the three Governments he usually approached did not seem to have much influence In Cairo now. Burns replied thtt he Intended to inform my French and American colleagues and myself of Mr. Sharrett* s views. Foreign Office pass teB^ffiiftf to Cairo and UKPel New York and Priority to Washington, Paris and POMEF as my telegrams Kos. 4S; 12, 15, 11 and 40 respectively. /Repeated to Cairo,. UXDel New York, Washington, Paris and POME|/ AD¥AMC1E COPIES Sir E Caccia Private Secretary Mr. Shttckburgh Head of Levant Department Head of African DDD 'UBUIC RECORD OFFICE ins 864-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and ______^__ Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet FROM TIL AVIY TO FOBEIGI OFFICE in Clair FOREIGN OFFICE AMD BISTlIBffPIOI Sir J. Nlcholls D: 10.55 a.®. April 6, 1956. 157. B: 11.26 a,ffl. April 6, 1956. April 6, 1956, I1ITOIAT1 Addressed to Foreign Office telegram Ho: 157 of. April 6 Repeated for information t©: Calr©. Jerusalem. P.O.M.E.F., Washington. U.K.Bel. Itw Y©rk. and Sating t®: Paris. Beirut. Damascus. Bagdad. • Amman. telegram N©: 111: Gaza Baokground is as stated "but it should be added that according t© Israel accounts, the Egyptian forces fired at Israel patrols on three ©r four ©ceaaions during the m©rhing and opened mortar and artillery fire against five settlements during the afternoon. Four Israel soldiers and two civilians are stated t© have been injured. 2. Presumably most of the Egyptian casualties ©ceurred in Gaza. Th« Ministry ©f Ftreign Affairs inform me that Israel forces were ©bilged to open fire on an Egyptian artillery position there at 1650 hours after it had shelled an Israel settlement for twenty minutes, 3. The Ministry add that "Isratl patr©l was again attacked at 0830 hours this morning and that an exchange ©f fire lasting abtut an hour ensued. Fertlgn Office pass U.K.Del. New York, Washington and Saving t© Paris, Beirut, Damascus, Bagdad and Amman as ®y telegrais Nts: 9, 32, 18, 16, 10, 9 and 11. [Repeated to U.K.Bel. New Y@rk, Washington and Saving t© Paris, Beirut, Damascus, Bagiad and » - AID man]. *inb^ ADVANCE COPIES; Private Storetary. Sir G. Harrison. Mr. ShucKburgh, Head Levant Department. Head News Department. 33333 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins I R*f, Fb 371 / 121715 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet V CONFIDENTIAL Tfy AViy TO JORHIOII OFFIGB Sin* r J*. «Kieholl* u •,••s M01l|70 Ho: 159 2>: 10.05 p.*. April 6, 1956 April 6, 1956 R: 10.20 p.m. April 6, 1956 CONFIDENTIAL Addressed to Foreign Of floe telegram Ro. 159 of April 6. Repeated for Information to: Cairo, Amman, And Saving to: U.K. Bel Hew fork, P.O.M.E0F. Washington, Head of Commonwealth Division called at my house this evening to tell ne that the Israeli Government hat information that the Egyptian Government was planning to resume Fedayeen operations across Jordanian and possibly other frontiers. He said the United States and French Embassies and General Burns were also being informed and that the latter had been asked to make it clear to the Jordan Government that Israel would take whatever measures were necessary in self-defence. 2* I said I was certain that tot Jordan Government would not lend themselves to Egyptian attempts to embroil Jordan but that if incidents should nevertheless ocour it was essential that Israel should avoid precipitating reaction. Mr. Sohneerson said that the Israeli Government had no possible interest in trouble on another frontier; he said he oould obviously not give me an undertaking that there would be no reaction but felt sure that the first step would be a public warning. 3. Mr. Sohneerson subsequently telephoned to say General Burns had passed on message to Arab Legion Command who had replied that they knew nothing of the reported Egyptian plans. ]»• Please see my immediately following telegram. Foreign Office pass Immediate to Cairo as my telegram Ho. 28 and to U.K. Bel Hew York, Washington and P.O.K.K.F. as my Saving telegrams Nos. 9, 31 and 21 respectively. to... 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 I 2 ™- To 37//I21773 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet v FROM CAIRO TO FOREX W OFFICE Si Glair QREIGff OFFICE! AflB Sir H. Trevelyan No. 611 D, 8.45 i>«®. April 6f 1956 April 6» 1956 R. 8.50 p.m. April 6, 1956 Addressed t® Foreign Office telegram H®. 641 of April 6. Repeated for iaf oraatiem Saving to Jerusalem Tel Aviv P.Q.M.E.F. UKDel New Y©rk Washington Paris Aman Beirut Damascus Jemsalem telegram Jfo. 111. Fress today reported annoaancemeat Tiy Egyptian military spokesman last night that Israelis had shelled Gaza Beir II Balah Khan Ycsunis and Issan from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. 42 civilians were killed and 103 injured. 7 ®f the Egyptian armed f orees were inured. Egyptian artillery had shelled Kisssfina Ain Allows Ha and Al ter Ayeef in reply. 2, Press also reported Israeli military spokesman's aanounoement that 5 Israel soldiers were killed, 3. Akhfear pointed ©at that it was while Security Council was considering United States reolution for sending Mr. Harasarekjoeld to Middle last that Israeli artillery were pointing their guns towards Egyptian positions, H® Government Comment yet, Foreign CSffiee pass Saving t® Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, UKDel New York, mshingtofl-' and Paris as Hy telegrams Hos. 8f 42, 17, 118 and 73 {Repeated Saving to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, UKDel New York, Washington and Paris] F F F F 1 2 cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins 1 1 i 2 R«.: Fb 37// 121773 364-55 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet V FROM TIL AYIV TO FORBISN OFFICE Clair gO.HB.lrK OFFIC35 AND n."~r " ~/~j WHITEHALL DISTRIBUTION Sir ,1. Nioholls ; VEjMf/?2j No. 161 D. 11.08 p.m. April 7, 1956. April 7, 1956. R. 11.^2 p.m. April 7, 1956. ^QIMBPIATB •t© Foreign Office telegram No. 161 of April 7. Repeat ei for information to: Washington IKDSL New York Cair© Amman POUF Jerusalem Damascus. Ministry of Foreign Affairs have informed me that casualties have been ©auseii this eTening by ambushes on the Ashkelon-Paluja roai set by infiltrators from the Gaza strip whom they presume to have been Pelayeen. Number of ©asualties is lot yet known. 2. Ministry have BO allitioial iiforpation to all to that contained in my telegram No. 159 (not to all). 3. Araty spokesman has also reportel shooting in streets of Ashkelon an! a bomb explosion ani an ambush near Ashkelon. Foreign Office please pass Immediate to Washington and UKDEL New York as my telegrams Nos. 35 ani 11 respectively. [Repeatei to Washington ani UKML New York. ] ADVANCE COPIES:- v; Sir I. Kirkpatrick : Private Se®r«tary Mr. Shuckburgh ; Heai of Levant Department Resident Clerk Q Q Q Q ins I cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE *,/., To 37)7121775 86455 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Publi——c Recor^—d Office'is terms and conditions and that your copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet v FROM AMMAN 170 FORBID OFFICE DSPARTUBNTAL DISTOIBUTION Mr. Duke Hot 560 D. 11.35 &.». April 7, 1956. 7» H. 12.16 p.*, April 7f Addrossod to Foreign Offioo telegram No. of Apa^il 7 Repeated for information to; Cairo, Aviv, x" I Tel AYir telegrams Nos. 159 and 160 to yota. The Legion, in response to General Burns '3 request that such terrorist infiltration be prevented, have implied that They have no information about these iapending (b) It is the policy of the Jordan Government to prevent infiltration; strict orders have periodically been issued to both Military and police to this effect. (o) At General Burns's request, orders of this nature wiU again lie issued but It would be appreciated If grp omitted] Israelis oould supply further information on this score. 2. Although I am fully aware of the damggrs of the incidents 01 the Jordan-Israel border at this juncture, I do not feel that the Legion oould reasonably be expected to do more unless the fuller information which they have requested is forthcoming. It would therefore lie most helpful if Her Majesty's Ambassador at Tel Aviv could impress on toe Israelis the desirability of making this information available to If gps omitted]. j Foreign Offioe pass Priority to Cairo 202 and P.G,1,S»F. 261. [Repeated to Cairo sad P.O.M.B.F. ] TO* Levant Department Sir I. Kirkpatrlck Head Levant African Department Private Secretary Department Eastern Department Mr. Resident Clerk xxxx Hews Department f cms PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE ins Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Public Record Office's terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet FROM AMMAN TO FOREIGN OFFICE Cypher/OTP DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION Mr. Duke No. 561 D. 10.18 p.m. April 7, 1956. April 7, 1956. R. 10.37 p.m. April 7, 1956. PRIORITY SECRET Addressed to .Foreign. Office telegram No. 567 of April 7. Repeated for information to: Cairo Damascus anl Saving to: Tel Aviv lashingtoi POMEF Beirut Bagdad Benghazi Tripoli UKDBL New York I I spoke to King Hussein on the lines of your telegram No. 662 this afternoon. He immediately volunteered that he thought the Egyptians might be contemplating employing in their armeiS forces, specialists from Russia who were Moslems. I askel him if he knew of any ffu/£ iniications that they intense! to io so to which he sail he iii not but that he wouW try to find out ii the course of his forthcoming visit to Damascus. Foreign Office pass Damascus anl Cairo as ay telegrams Nos. 110 anl 203 ana Saving to Tel Aviv, Washington, FOOT, Beirut, Bagiai, Jedia, Benghazi, Tripoli anl UKD1L New York as my telegrams Nos. 83, 97> 53, 102, 36, 29, 1, 3 a®i 7 respectively. [Repeated to Damascus anl Cairo and Saving to Tel Aviv, Washingtoi, POMEF, Beirut, Baglal, Jelia, Benghazi, Tripoli and UKDBL New York.] DISTRIBUTED TO:~ '..« — * - • •"'•• - ,,f Levant Department V Eastern Department • •'"" $ African Department Vfttvv Informati©! Research Department P.U.S.D. (O.P.S.) Q Q Q Q 2| cms "PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE" «.,, To 37l/)21??3 36^55 Conditions of supply of Public Records' leaflet SECRET FROM AMAI TO FOREIGN OFFICE Gypher/OTP FOREIGN OFFICE SECRET AND WHITEHALL SICRET DISTRIBUTION Mr. Duke I©. 569 D. 8.U a.m. April 8, 1956 April 7, 1956 R. 9.51 a.m. April 8, 1956 SICRET Addressed t© F©reign Office telegram H®. 569 of April 7. Repeated for 4nf©raatisa Saving to Jerusalem Cair© Tel Aviv P.Q.I.E.F. TJKDel Hew York 7/ashington Paris Beirut Damascus Jerusalem telegram No* 111."" King Hussein sp®ke with great indignation this m®rniag about Israeli shelling of refugee *amp in the Gaza strip. He said he had thought it mist be the beginning of am Israeli offensive, particularly as reports indicated that Israel alrea<3y had about 85 per cent total mobilization. 2. I agreed that Israeli action, according t® reports so far received, was deplorable particularly when the Secretary s General ©f the United Nations was about t© arrive to try and ,• 6 relieve tension between the Israelis and the Arabs. I qmoted - \ to him, however, the gist ®f Tel Aviv telegram No. [grp.undec.3 ind said that I thought it possible that the Israeli action was by the genuine fear of an Egyptian attack (year 1745 t© Washington). The King replied that if the Israelis were afraid ©f an Kgyptian attack he c©uld a©t see why they should have done their best t© provoke CM by this aetion in Gaza. Foreign Office pass Saving t® Gair® 47, Tel Aviv P.O*M«E.F. 54, HKPel lew York 8, Washington 99, Paris 138, Beirut 104, Damascus %, Bagdad 38. Repeated Saving to Cairo, Tel Aviv, IVQ.M.E.F. UKDel Hew York, Washington, Paris, Beirut, Damascus and Bagdad] F F F F