FROM OUR ARCHIVES
65 YEARS AGO
On November 2, 1951, The Jerusalem Post reported that a police squad exchanged fire with a terrorist group which ambushed it near the Romema neighborhood of Jerusalem. Police were also investigating shots fired at Daniel Zarifi, 46, who had been challenged by two infiltrators. Tracks were discovered leading to the armistice line [east Jerusalem was until 1967 under Jordanian Arab Legion occupation]. Moshe Ben Itzhak Meyuhas, 36, was wounded by two infiltrators whom he challenged nearby, and Yehuda Mizrahi, 42, was robbed. Police had urged residents of the armistice line border area to volunteer for “special police” units which had greatly aided the regular police during recent months.
In Paris, the Palestine Conciliation Commission had categorically overruled Israel’s objections to negotiate on the basis of the Arab contempt for the existing armistice agreements, implied in the Arab rejection of the Commissions preamble. The commission addressed a letter to all parties, asking them to give a straight yes or no to the request to proceed without further quibbling.
Commerce and Industry Ministry stated that half a million pairs of shoes had been marketed during the past six months and released another 17 shoe and leather ration points.
50 YEARS AGO
On November 2, 1966, The Jerusalem Post reported that at the UN, US ambassador Arthur Goldberg took personal command at backstage negotiations, seeking to salvage some semblance of Security Council action on Israel’s complaint against Syrian aggression. The council’s three African members were reported to be sharing the opposition of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria and Jordan to the US-British joint resolution which would hold Syria responsible for Fatah sabotage raids. But there were indications that the permanent members of the council would agree to a compromise solution.
A 15-ton lorry was damaged when a mine exploded under its right rear wheel on a track near She’ar Yashuv. The driver was not hurt. Investigation established that the mine was a British-made Mark 2, a type in use by the Syrian army. A complaint was lodged with the Mixed Israel-Syrian Truce Observance Commission, and UN observers started an investigation. The wave of violence on Israel’s borders was discussed at a meeting between Gen. Odd Bull, UNTSO chief of staff, and the director of armistice affairs in the Foreign Ministry, Moshe Sasson.
At the UN, the US urged all governments concerned to show more flexibility and realism in working towards an ultimate solution of the Arab refugee problem. US ambassador Harding Bancroft told the General Assembly Special Political Committee that the UN should express “regret that no repatriation or compensation of the refugees had been effected in the 16 years the problem was before the UN.”
10 YEARS AGO
On November 2, 2006, The Jerusalem Post reported that dozens of Palestinians swarmed to Beit Hanun to engage IDF units that raided the northern Gaza Strip village during the night in a bid to strike at Kassam rocket infrastructure in the area. After a day of fierce battles an IDF soldier, St.-Sgt. Kiril Golenshil, and at least 10 gunmen were killed, but rockets continued to fall inside the Green Line.
Golenshil, 21, a dog-handler in the crack “Sting” canine unit from Moshav Shekef in the Negev, was killed before dawn when gunmen opened fire on troops as they navigated the narrow alleyways of the village.
A Kassam rocket just cleared an apartment bloc before slamming into a Sderot playground. A child was wounded and another four individuals were treated for shock in a rocket attack. – Alexander Zvielli