Mideast situation/Palestine question/Truce violations – Cablegram to SecGen from UN Mediator

CABLEGRAM DATED 18 AUGUST 1948 FROM THE UNITED NATIONS MEDIATOR TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNING THE PRESENT SITUATION IN JERUSALEM

For President of Security Council:

I am very concerned about present situation in Jerusalem.  Owing to mutual distrust of parties and also lack until now of sufficient number of observers and transportation and despite my constant efforts and the efforts of the United Nations observers not only has firing practically never ceased in Jerusalem but situation is gradually getting out of hand.  It is presently reported to me that general tension is locally mounting.  Under prevailing conditions it is difficult to assess responsibilities and idle to try to ascertain which of parties is more to blame.  They both have come deliberately to ignore the authority of the United Nations.  The situation is at present of local character the one party firing against the other without any alteration of positions.  Nevertheless it should be borne in mind that further deterioration of the situation in Jerusalem may lead to general resumption of hostilities.  I therefore request that the Security Council take prompt action with a view to giving effect to its resolution of 15 July.  Should present action of Security Council take form of warning I suggest that it should clearly be pointed out to parties (1) that responsibility will be assessed whether violations are due to members of opposing armies or to dissident elements or irregulars, (2) that each party has a duty to bring to justice its own dissident elements and irregulars when they violate the truce, (3) that reprisals and retaliations are not permitted, (4) that no party will be allowed to gain by any violation of Truce.

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