FROM OUR ARCHIVES
65 YEARS AGO
On March 13, 1952, The Jerusalem Post reported that imminent solutions to the problems of legal status for the Zionist Organization and of the relations between the United Jewish Appeal and the Bond Drive were predicted by Dr. Israel Goldstein, member of the Jewish Agency Executive, at a press conference in Jerusalem. Goldstein said that on the status of the Jewish Agency he felt “that it must be consulted whenever any Jewish organization applies for approval to operate in Israel.” While admitting that the government of Israel had “undisputed right to approach any organization it wished,” he stated that the Zionist Executive wished to be in on any “arrangements” that might be worked out”. “Otherwise,” he said, “there will be chaos and confusion in raising funds for Israel.”
Eilat was bedecked and illuminated to mark the third anniversary of the town’s liberation. A military parade was held under the command of Lt.-Col. Peretz Baram. On the reviewing stand were agriculture minister Levi Eshkol and the OC Southern Command, Maj.-Gen Moshe Zadok and Mrs. Zadok.
The central committee of the Government Employees Union responded to the prime minister’s plea that the working week in the government offices be lengthened to 47 hours. The decision was adopted by a large majority.
Two guest houses in Tiberias, the Astorias and Daphne, were closed by the Food Authorities of the Northern District for serving meat acquired from unofficial sources.
Found guilty of assisting in the war against Israel, Hassan Hussein Diah, 27, of Kafr Arrabe was sentenced to seven years in prison.
50 YEARS AGO
On March 13, 1967, The Jerusalem Post reported that Fatah saboteurs operating from Jordan successfully derailed a freight train, 12 km. south of Beersheba. However, by 3 p.m. rail traffic to Beersheba was resumed after the slight damage caused by the saboteurs was repaired.
The cabinet began a detailed discussion of general TV, which according to the current plans was to go into operation by the end of 1968.
Alec Douglas-Home, former prime minister of Britain, arrived in Israel for a one-week visit.
Lucius Battle, the newly appointed US assistant secretary of state for the Near East and South Asia, arrived for his first visit to Israel.
The Syrians appeared to have succeeded in diverting the Dufeila Spring inside their territory through a concrete canal they had constructed.
25 YEARS AGO
On March 13, 1992, The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli officials in Washington had categorically denied that Israel gave a US-manufactured Patriot missile to the Chinese government.
The Washington Times cited a senior US Administration official as saying that the US was looking into intelligence reports that the Chinese had obtained a Patriot or its components from Israel.
“The US must demand from Syria that it stop arming itself with weapons of mass destruction,” foreign minister David Levy told the press.
Scores of people were injured, several seriously, as gales with gusts reaching almost 120 kph battered the north of the country taking over where the snow, rain and freezing temperatures left off. More than 25,000 people were left without electricity.