U.N. TRUCE MISSION FAILS

Chronicle (Levin), 9 July 1948, Page 5

U.N. TRUCE MISSION FAILS

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter

yh Palestine Fighting Will Resume

Eve Of Savage And Merciless Battle

CovyrtQht)

Received Friday, 9.55 a.m. LONDON, July 8. The entire United Nations truce mission is retiring from Palestine tomorrow. It has failed in its object of paciiying the country. The United Nations mediator, Count Bernadotte, said in Rhodes today : 'T am disappointed that hostilities are to be resiimed." The month's truce in Palestine ends at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Count Bernadotte said the Jews had agreed to extend the truce for another 30 days. The Arabs were not prepared to accept an extension "in view of the experience of the last few weeks." Count Bernadotte said: "It appears quite impossible to obtain an agreement not to resume hostilities. Therefore, I will concentrate on oblaining a cease fire in Jerusalem and its ultimate demilitarisation." He said he was willing to rneet the Arab leaders in Cairo on July 10 to discuss a temporary cease fire in Jerusalem.

The Government of Israel claimed today that Egyptian forces had already opened an ofTensive near Beer Trinya, 22 miles north-east of Gaza. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv today when unidentified aircraft flew over the city. Brigadier David Shaltiel, the 42-year-old German-born Jewish Commander of Jerusalem, said last night: "We are on the eve of a renewal of the struggle and it will be a savage and merciless flght withvut retreat. We shall defend thi^> ?ity to the last man."