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.