Office of the Historian

501. Memorandum From the Officer in Charge of Israel-Jordan Affairs (Bergus) to the Deputy Director of the Office of Near Eastern Affairs (Burdett)1

Washington, July 25, 1956.

SUBJECT

  • Recent Developments on the Israel-Arab Borders

On July 24 an exchange of fire took place between Israel police on Mt. Scopus and Jordanian forces in the vicinity after Jordanian soldiers occupied a house within the Israel sector on Mt. Scopus. Two UN Observers (Canadians) arranged a cease fire and then accompanied by a Jordanian officer sought to evacuate the Jordanians from the house. As they proceeded along a track leading to the house an explosive device went off wounding all three officers. UNTSO is investigating to determine whether an old mine or an anti personnel device of another type was involved. One of the Canadian Observers had visited the same house several weeks before this incident.

Today’s press tickers (we have no telegrams yet in from the field) tell of a fire fight between Israel and Jordanian forces in the Qastel area on the northern side of the Jerusalem Corridor. The Israel military spokesman has stated that Jordanians fired on Israel laborers and that Israel border guards returned the fire. The Jordan Army spokesman has said that an Israel patrol crossed into Jordan and used 3" mortar and automatic weapon fire against Jordanians, [Page 899] including civilians. Nine Jordanians are reported as wounded including a UN Observer (Swedish). Both parties have entered complaints with the MAC. Qastel is near Kiryat Anavim where, on July 23, infiltrators allegedly threw a grenade at a children’s house. No casualties were suffered.

Both Israel and Egypt have counter charges arising out of an incident near Kissufim in the Gaza strip area. The Egyptians claim that the Israel patrol crossed the DL whereas the Israelis allege that the Egyptians fired at Israel patrol in Israel territory. We have no reports of casualties.

Since writing the above we have received a telegram from Jerusalem stating that two UN Observers were wounded by Jordan fire while investigating the incident near Qastel. One Jordanian colonel was also reported wounded.2

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.85/7–2556. Official Use Only. Drafted by Blackiston. The source text bears a notation that the memorandum was also sent to Allen and Rountree.↩
  2. Reference is to telegram 27 from Jerusalem, July 25, not printed. (Ibid.)↩