FROM OUR ARCHIVES
65 YEARS AGO
On February 7, 1952, The Jerusalem Post reported that local Israeli and Jordanian commanders stationed along the armistice line, resumed their anti-infiltration meetings, while the senior UN Mixed Israeli-Jordanian delegates met at Latrun.
In Tel Aviv, the alleged black-market dealers used force against Commerce Ministry inspectors conducting a routine search in Lilienblum Street, the 11th of its kind that week. Two inspectors were slightly injured and four persons were detained. The dealers organized themselves and put up watchmen. A Tel Aviv merchant was arrested and charged with purchasing 10 “sovereigns” from a black market dealer. A search of the man’s home revealed the coins and a gold cigarette case that he bought for IL 600.
Finance minister Eliezer Kaplan assured the Knesset that that month’s increased demand for kerosene would be met in full.
The arrival of the s.s. Transylvania in Haifa on her regular run was postponed because many would-be immigrants could not pay for their tickets, due to the devaluation of the Romanian currency.
50 YEARS AGO
On February 7, 1967, The Jerusalem Post reported that during the previous 24 hours infiltrators, operating from the Lebanese and Jordanian territories, had attempted a number of new acts of sabotage.
The leaders of Mapam and the Alignment decided to meet again, after Mapam had reiterated its threat to leave the cabinet, unless the cost-of-living allowance increase was paid in full. It was understood that the Alignment economic ministers would discuss with the Manufacturers’ Association the industry’s ability to pay the increased cost-ofliving allowance. Mapam had also continued to press the Alignment for wage increases.
25 YEARS AGO
On February 7, 1992, The Jerusalem Post reported that prime minister’s Yitzhak Shamir told a special press news conference that Israel did not have to adhere to every word of the 1978 Camp David accords that dealt with Palestinian autonomy. “We are not obliged to every word written there. Time had passed and things had changed,” Shamir said, and refused to elaborate upon which unilateral changes he felt such changes were warranted.
In Washington, US secretary of state James Baker questioned Israel’s ability to repay the $10 billion in requested housing loans, and recalled Israel’s rejection the previous year of a US suggestion that it freeze settlements in exchange for Arab countries lifting their boycott.
In Cairo, Egyptian security forces claimed that the two Israeli Arabs, the 41-year-old Fares Subhi Misarti and his daughter Faika, arrested on suspicion of spying, tried to cultivate a senior Egyptian military officer and plotted sabotage. The security forces claimed that the father tried to jump out of a window to avoid arrest after illegal communications equipment and official documents were found in their apartment. The two had been interrogated by Egyptian intelligence officers, but not formally charged.
– Alexander Zvielli