Palestine question – General situation in Palestine – Press release

UNITED NATIONS

Department of Public Information

Press and Publications Bureau

Lake Success, New York

Press Release PAL/163/Corr.1

30 April 1948

NEW TELEGRAM FROM PALESTINE TRUCE COMMISSION

TO PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Dr. Alfonso Lopez, President of the Security Council, read to the First Committee members this afternoon the following telegram sent to him by the Chairman of the Palestine Truce Commission:

"GENERAL SITUATION PALESTINE DETERIORATING RAPIDLY STOP GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CLOSING DAILY STOP AND NORMAL ACTIVITIES COUNTRY COMING TO A STAND STILL STOP THE JEWISH AGENCY IS ACTION AS A GENERAL ORGANIZING BODY FOR JEWISH AREAS AND ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE SUSPENDED GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES STOP ARAB AREAS ARE DEPENDING ON MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES WITHIN TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES WITHOUT ANY CENTRAL AUTHORITY STOP TELEGRAPH FACILITIES CEASED IN MOST AREAS AS HAVE TELEPHONE TRUNK LINES STOP TELEPHONES STILL WORK LOCALLY BUT WITH DECREASING EFFICIENCY STOP LYDDA AIRPORT IS OUT OF OPERATION AND REGULAR AIR COMMUNICATION AND AIRMAIL SERVICE IN AND OUT OF COUNTRY HAVE STOPPED STOP INTENSITY OF FIGHTING IS INCREASING STEADILY STOP CAMPS AND OTHER IMPORTANT AREAS VACATED BY BRITISH FORCES IMMEDIATELY BECOME BATTLE GROUNDS STOP OPERATIONS ON LARGER AND MORE IMPORTANT SCALE THAN HAIFA EXPECTED SHORTLY STOP RUMORS TENDING TO INCREASE THE NERVOUS TENSION IN THE COUNTY.

"CHAIRMAN PALESTINE TRUCE COMMISSION."

# # # # #