Palestine question – Attack on UN Mediator, Observer – Press release

UNITED NATIONS

Department of Public Information

Press and Publications Bureau

Lake Success, New York

Press Release PAL/292

18 September 1948

CHIEF OF UN PALESTINE MISSION HOLD ISRAEL

RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTACK ON UN MEDIATOR AND OBSERVER

(The following has been received today at UN Headquarters from the

Press Officer with the UN Mediation Staff in Jerusalem)

Dr. Ralphe Bunche, Chief of the UN Mission in Palestine has sent the following message to the Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok.

"The murder in cold blood of Count Bernadotte United Nations Mediator in Palestine and of Colonel Serot in the Katamon quarter of Jerusalem today (17 September) by Jewish assailants is an outrage against the international community and an unspeakable violation of elementary morality.

This tragic act occurred when Count Bernadotte, acting under the authority of the United Nations was on an official tour of duty in Jerusalem and in the presence of the Liaison Officer assigned to him by the Jewish authorities.

His safety, therefore, and that of his Lieutenants under the ordinary rules of law and order was a responsibility of the Provisional Government of Israel whose armed forces and representatives control and administer the area.

The act constitutes a breach of the truce of the utmost gravity for which the Provisional Government of Israel must assume full responsibility.

In this connection, I feel obliged to record the view that the prejudicial and unfounded statements concerning truce supervision attributed to you and to Colonel Yadin as having been made at your press conference in Tel Aviv on Thursday, 16 September and as reported in the Palestine Post of September 17, are not the kind of statements which would be calculated to discourage reprehensible acts of this kind."

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