Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

501.BB Palestine/1–949: Telegram

The Special Representative of the United States in Israel (McDonald) to the Secretary of State

top secret
niact
urgent

Tel Aviv, January 9, 1949—10 p. m.

24. ReDeptel unnumbered (Usun 13) 8 January 4 [3] p. m.,¹ and Deptel 13, January 8, 8 p. m. Galled on Foreign Minister at 3:30 p. m. today accompanied by Knox and Archibald.² Shertok replied as follows:

1. PGI fully confirms statement made [to] Palestine Committee SC by Israel representative and furthermore adds the “determination” of PGI to: (1) maintain ceasefire; (2) proceed full negotiations with Egypt.

I then stated, with reference allegations Israel units still remain Egyptian soil, that on basis information received from Ben Gurion and from Foreign Minister himself, I had positively assured my government of total withdrawal as of January 2. Shertok replied:

That as of time he made statement to me Israeli units were actually all out of Egypt but that subsequently, and before ceasefire, it may be that some Israeli units re-entered temporarily as a phase of operations covering a movement near Rafah. Foreign Minister stated that abruptness of withdrawal orders created great military confusion in area (re this assertion service attaches point put that withdrawal under combat conditions always difficult and complicated move to complete within limited time). He added categorically that orders have been issued all Israeli units that found themselves on Egyptian side frontier at time ceasefire to return to Israel side forthwith, and he is confident this being done. (Note: At 6 p. m. today Air Attaché personally asked ICS Dori³ to give him facts and reply was that all Israeli units were in fact out of Egypt on January 2 but that subsequently and before ceasefire hour arranged, Israeli units entered road to Egypt in order to cut it as a phase of attack on Rafah; Dori added that since the deadline hour of ceasefire all Israeli units have been ordered out of Egypt and are in process of coming out on direct orders ICS. This information corroborates Shertok’s explanation.)

Foreign Minister then referred to Egyptian allegations Israel violations ceasefire (reDeptel 11, January 7⁴) and stated that PGI categorically denied them. In particular he stated there was no air attack on Arab refugee camp.⁵

New subject: Foreign Minister then stated his wish inform us that PGI considerably perturbed by presence British troops Akaba. He is not aware of any Israel threat to Transjordan territory. At secret meeting 5 January between Israel representatives and Abdullah Tel in Jewish Jerusalem, Israeli asked Tel if King had invoked Anglo-Transjordan treaty. Tel alleged to have at first denied that King had asked for British troops but later was evasive on grounds “military secrecy”. PGI formally asking Transjordan for what reason Anglo-Transjordan treaty was invoked. PGI feels only rational deduction is that presence British troops Akaba designed constitute threat to Israel territory in Negev.

New subject: Foreign Minister than referred to “astonishing news” that British Consul General Haifa unofficially advising British nationals leave Israel. Foreign Minister stated that several British nationals had asked PGI Foreign Office representative in Haifa what to do and that representative was urging them stay in Israel.

McDonald

1. Not printed, but see footnote 1 to telegram 13, January 8, p. 629.
2. Col. Edwin P. Archibald, Air Attaché in Israel.
3. Maj. Gen. Yaakov Dori, Israeli Chief of Staff.
4. Not printed; but see footnote 2, p. 629.
5. The four consecutive paragraphs concluding at this point were quoted in a night action telegram to Cairo on January 10. The Department informed Chargé Patterson that this excerpt indicated the intention of the Provisional Government of Israel to observe the cease-fire and to withdraw its forces from Egypt; it also authorized the Chargé to informally “communicate substance this telegram to Egyptian Prime Minister and emphasize hope that Egyptian Govt for its part will do nothing to disturb present tense situation. You should add that US is gratified at present intention of both Egypt and Israel to meet in Rhodes for discussions which we trust will result in establishment of permanent peace in Palestine. Re recent shooting down of RAF planes you should tell Prime Minister that we firmly believe this should be kept to confines of an Israeli-UK incident and should not be permitted to affect negotiations between Arab Govts and Israel looking toward settlement of Palestine conflict.” (telegram 33, 501.BB Palestine/1–949)