Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

684A.85/2–553: Telegram

No. 557
The Ambassador in Israel (Davis) to the Department of State¹

confidential
priority

Tel Aviv, February 5, 1953—6 p.m.

1247. Deptel 726,² Embtels 1226,³ 1231,⁴ 1240, 1246.⁵ Foreign Minister Sharett told me this morning Cabinet under chairmanship Prime Minister Ben-Gurion had considered crisis in relations with Jordan yesterday and had decided to make following confidential comment to diplomatic representatives of US, UK and France. He stated that a “mounting tide of violence emanating from Jordan” had reached unprecedented climax in attack on main railway line February 2 when track had been mined and train wrecked near village of Eyal. He added that after the wreck attackers fired about 800 rounds on village and train.

Foreign Minister characterized this as an outrage culminating “long and continuous series, carried out by armed bands involving loss of life, robbery of property and dislocating of normal conditions”. He said it was shock to public sense of safety and challenge to government and defense authorities of country.

He stated that Israel Government holds that of Jordan responsible for “negligence, connivance, or even instigation” in connection with these acts. He interpolated that Israeli authorities have what they regard as reliable information that responsible officials organized some of most serious acts perpetrated and added that in any case that last one “bears every mark of a carefully planned military action, an act of war in effect”.

Sharett made quite a point of zone where attacks in question took place, which he described as Israel’s “jugular vein” through which extend main highway and railway line connecting northern and southern parts of country.

He concluded with statement that unless Jordan authorities show themselves ready and able to control situation, Israel Government “would consider itself entitled, and in duty bound, to use all measures in exercise of legitimate self-defense to put end to attacks, protect life and property and ensure security of traffic”.

My British colleague had appointment with Foreign Minister immediately following mine and presumably received statement along above lines.⁶

Davis

1. Repeated to London, Paris, Rome, Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jerusalem, Ankara, Baghdad, and Jidda.
2. Document 552.
3. Not printed, but see footnote 3, Document 554.
4. Document 554.
5. Telegrams 1240 and 1246 from Tel Aviv, both dated Feb. 5, reported on the attack of Feb. 2 on the Tel Aviv–Haifa railway north of Qalqilya. (684A.85/2–553)

6. The Department replied on Feb. 6 as follows:

   “Dept finds alarming and somewhat irresponsible statement quoted penultimate paragraph reftel. Dept has no evidence of ‘mounting tide of violence emanating from Jordan’ or basis for attitude IG re recent border relations. Dept would like Embassy’s comments and analysis re Cabinet decision and Sharett’s remarks.” (Telegram 753 to Tel Aviv, Feb. 6, 6:36 p.m.; 684A.85/2–553)