Arab Columns Converging On City

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1948, Page 5

Arab Columns Converging On City

• (N.Z.P.A.-

—Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Monday, 11 a.m. LONDON, May 30. The Arabs appear to be making Tel Aviv their next objective in the battle for Palestine. According to claims made in Cairo, Arab colpmp? are converging on the Tel Aviv area from the south, east and north. Egyptian, Iraqi and Transjordan forces are repqrfed to occupy a semi-eircle of towbs and villages 14 to 22 miles frppi Tel Aviv. Other Arab reports say that Transjordan forces have entered Lydda and Rameleh, 13 miles south-west of Tel Aviv.

A Jewish communique says that an artillery duel between Egyptian and Jewish forces has developed near Ashdad- Egyp= tian planes bombed Rehoboth. Jewish forces captured from strong Iraqi forces the former British camp at Raselain, which is the pumping station for Jerusalem^ water supply. One of the Jewish planes which attacked the Egyptians did not return. Some observers predict that now the Arabs have conquered the Old City of Jerusalem Ihe.y will be content to besiege the New City with its 100,000 Je.ws and let starvation bring them another victory. The loss of the Old City is a bitter blow to the Jews, who, on the insistence of their Provisjonal Government, had attempted to hold an indefensible position for prestige reasons, In Cairo the Egyption Foreign Minister, Ahmed Khashaba Pasha, said that the Arab League's political committee meets tomorrow to discuss the United Nations proposal for a four-weeks' cease fire in- Palestine.