UN Palestine Commission – Attack on Jewish ambulance – Cablegram from Jewish Community Council, Jerusalem

UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

Communication Received from Jewish Community

Council, Jerusalem

The following telegraphic communication, concerning alleged Arab attacks on a Jewish ambulance unit, has been received from the President of the Jewish Community Council, Jerusalem.

FROM JERUSALEM (PALESTINE)

SENT 15 APR 48 1130 (JERUSALEM)

RECD 15 APR 48 1435 EST

WDGE 218

(THE FOLLOWING CABLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE DAILY CABLE BOOKS)

LISICKY CHAIRMAN PALESTINE COMMISSION

CONVOY OF MOTOR VEHICLES INCLUDING AMBULANCES CONVEYING DOCTORS NURSES AND OTHER MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO HADASAH HOSPITAL ACADEMIC STAFF INCLUDING SCIENTISTS TO UNIVERSITY ON MOUNT SCOPUS JERUSALEM WAS BRUTALLY ATTACKED APRIL 13 BY LARGE ARAB GANGS INCLUDING IRAQI SOLDIERS. CASUALTIES APPROXIMATELY THIRTYFIVE DEAD TWENTY WOUNDED UNKNOWN NUMBER MISSING REPRESENT CRIPPLING LOSS TO MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC POTENTIAL OF PALESTINE. ATTACK TOOK PLACE WITHIN HUNDRED YARDS OF BRITISH ARMY POST, CONTINUING FOR SIX HOURS UNDER VERY EYES BRITISH MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO FAILED TAKE EFFECTIVE STEPS INTERVENE AND ACTUALLY PREVENTED HAGANA FORCES FROM COMING TO RESCUE. ALL THIS DESPITE PRIOR ASSURANCES BY BRITISH CIVIL AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES THAT ROAD SAFE AND PROTECTED. AS LONG AGO AS FEBRUARY WE DREW ATTENTION OF DISTRICT COMMISSION JERUSALEM TO INSECURITY MOUNT SCOPUS ROAD AND UNRELIABILITY OF MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THAT AREA BUT WITHOUT SLIGHTEST RESULT. MY COUNCIL DESIRES REGISTER EMPHATIC PROTEST AGAINST THIS SAVAGE ARAB ATTACK ON INNOCENT PERSONS AND AGAINST UTTER PASSIVITY AND DERELICTION OF MOST ELEMENTARY DUTY BY BRITISH SECURITY FORCES. MY COUNCIL APPEALS TO YOU TO USE ALL YOUR INFECT/TOE TO PREVENT REPETITION SUCH UNPROVOKED OUTRAGES AND SABOTAGE BY MANDATORY FORCES OF JEWISH SELFDEFENCE AND RESCUE ACTION.

CHAIM SALOMON PRESIDENT .JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL JERUSALEM.