By April 23, 2008 Read More →

A Day of Peace Again in Palestine, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, June 12, 1948.

Old City of JerusalemClick here to view the original article.

By CARTER L. DAVIDSON Associated Press Staff Writer

JERUSALEM, June 11-For the first time In 28 days the Jewish residents of the Holy City walked the streets today without a fear of sudden death.

No mortar shells crashed down. The incessant Arab sniper fire had ceased. The four-week United Nations truce period had begun.

But there was a total absence of faith in the cease-fire order.

One young Jewish woman put it this way-

“It’s wonderful to be able to walk the streets without being afraid. But we all have a fear deep inside us that the war will start again any minute.”

Shopkeepers opened their shutters. People laughed and joked. Children played on the sidewalks. So many cars appeared on the streets that the Haganah military police put traffic officers at the busy intersections.

Little 4-year-old Nurit, daughter of a coffee shop owner, was typical of hundreds of other children. Her father is in Haganah. Today he came home. Today she could play in the streets. Her mother could walk to the water wagon instead of slinking along beside a stone wall for protection from bullets and shells.

For the first time in 28 days there was sunlight in her room. The shutters were raised for there was no shrapnel flying outside.

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