UN Palestine Commission – Question of truce – Communication from the Jewish Agency for Palestine

UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM THE JEWISH AGENCY

TRANSMITTING THEIR REPLY TO THE FOUR POWERS

ON THE QUESTION OF A TRUCE

The following communication, giving the reply of the Jewish Agency to the question of a truce addressed to it by the Four Powers, has been addressed to the Secretary-General by the Jewish Agency for Palestine.

THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR PALESTINE
16 East 66th Street

New York 21, N.Y.

March 17, 1948

Hon. Trygve Lie

Secretary-General United Nations

Lake Success

New York

Sir:

I have the honor, on behalf of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, to submit the following reply to the question addressed to the Jewish Agency as to whether it would be prepared to enter into the necessary agreements to bring about an effective truce in Palestine.

1. It must be emphasized that insofar as the term “truce” implies a conflict between two belligerents it does not accurately fit the facts of the present situation, in which, on the one hand, an attempt is being made by the Arab States and the Arabs of Palestine to alter by force a settlement approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations, while the Jewish community has been defending itself and the decision of the United Nations which it has loyally accepted.

2. Subsequent to the adoption of the Resolution of the General Assembly, of November 29, on the future government of Palestine, the Jewish population it Palestine has been subjected to attacks by Arab forces, including armed bands from outside the country which, as the United Nations Palestine Commission has reported to the Security Council, are attempting to alter the Resolution of General Assembly by force.

3. The Jewish people has in no case resorted to aggression against the Arab people nor does it seek conflict with them. At the same time, the Jews of Palestine have been obliged to take measures to protect themselves from attack and to uphold their rights under the United Nations Resolution.

4. The moment that Arab aggression ceases Jewish armed reaction will also terminate. There must of course be a clear understanding that the cessation of Arab aggression will also include the stoppage of preparations for future aggression, the evacuation of foreign forces and the prevention of further incursion of armed bands into Palestine.

5. It is assumed that any arrangement for a. truce will be carried out within the framework of the implementation of the Resolution of the General Assembly and in strict conformity with the time-table provided in that Resolution.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed)

Moshe Shertok