By April 27, 2008 Read More →

New Battle Breaks Out In Jerusalem, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 16, 1948.

Old City of JerusalemClick here to view the original article.

JERUSALEM, Aug. 15 (AP)-The highest outbreak of shooting since the second truce began four weeks ago raged today in Jerusalem.

The detonation of mortar shells and heavy machine-gun fire awoke inhabitants around dawn.

The Jews, listing five casualties, charged the Arabs were responsible.

In Amman, a spokesman for the Trans-Jordan Arab Legion said two Arabs were killed in a three-hour attack by Jews against Legion forward posts in Jerusalem. He said the attack was launched after United Nations observers notified the Legion last night Israel had accepted Count Folke Bernadotte’s order that fire not be returned.

Dr. Bernard Joseph, Israeli military governor of Jerusalem, said the Jews reserved the right to self defense. At the same time he said his command had reissued instructions not to open fire and not to reply to enemy sniping in order to enable U. N. observers to establish responsibility for violations.

“Arab forces launched a general attack along the entire Jerusalem front,” an Israeli army source said. “The enemy used heavy machine guns and mortars, also laying a smoke screen in the (Arab-occupied) Sheik Jarrah sector. Troops of the army of Israel replied by directing fire at enemy concentrations. Jewish casualties are two dead and three wounded.”

A heavy explosion was heard near the wall of the Old City, which is held by Arabs. Another sounded in the no man’s land outside the old city’s Jaffa gate.

The Jewish army informant declared Arabs attacked Ramat Rachel, a Jewish collective settlement south of Jerusalem, an Israeli position on Mount Zion and the Beth Israel quarter, in the northern sector of the city.

Dr. Joseph reiterated a demand that the Arabs “withdraw from positions they have occupied in no man’s land during the cease-fire period.”

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