IO Files
Message Released by the United Nations Security Council on January 25, 1949
S/1225
Cablegram Dated 25 January 1949 From the Acting Mediator to the Secretary-General Transmitting a Cease Fire Agreement Approved by Egypt and the Provisional Government of Israel
To President of Security Council: I have the honour to inform you that the following cease-fire agreement was formally approved by the Delegations of Egypt and Israel at Rhodes for the armistice negotiations. Text of agreement follows:
“Egyptian Israeli General Cease Fire Agreement
We, the undersigned, do hereby agree that:
- 1.
- The general cease-fire agreement between the two parties which became effective on 7 January 1949 at 1200 GMT is hereby formally confirmed as a complete and enduring cease-fire between all elements of our military or para-military forces—land, sea and air—wherever located.
- 2.
- No element of the ground or air forces of either party shall advance beyond or pass over the line now held by foremost elements of its ground forces, and no element of naval or air forces of either party shall enter into or pass over the waters adjacent to the coastline now held by the other party for any purpose whatsoever.
- 3.
- In pursuance of the resolution of the Security Council of 29 December 1948, complete supervision of the truce by the United Nations observers shall be allowed and facilitated.
- 4.
- Movements of civilians shall not occur from one side to the other.
Done and signed in quadruplicate at Rhodes, Island of Rhodes, Greece, on the 24 January 1949, in the presence of the United Nations Acting Mediator on Palestine and the Chief of Staff of this United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. Signed for and on behalf of the Government of Egypt: Self El Dine, Colonel and M. K. El Rahmany, Colonel. For and on behalf of the Provisional Government of Israel: Walter Eytan and Yigael Yadin, Alouf.1 Rhodes, 24 January 1949.”
The negotiations on the armistice agreement made excellent progress in the early stages but severe divergencies in viewpoint have been en countered during the past few days. The negotiations are continuing, however, and it is still hoped that agreement can be reached.
I regret that I have not been in a position to keep the Security Council regularly informed as to the progress made and the difficulties encountered because of the formal agreement entered into by the two Delegations that the proceedings of the negotiations are not to be released in any way until the negotiations are concluded.
- Hebrew equivalent of “Colonel”; Colonel Yadin was Chief of Operations in the Israeli Army.↩