ISRAELI-JORDAN BORDER: FIRST ARAB FAMILIES RETURN TO WEST BANK AT START OF OFFICIAL REPATRIATION

Record ID: 399516

  • Title: ISRAELI-JORDAN BORDER: FIRST ARAB FAMILIES RETURN TO WEST BANK AT START OF OFFICIAL REPATRIATION
  • Date: 19th July 1967
  • Summary: REFUGEES OVER BRIDGE; WOMEN ON STRETCHER; SMALL CHILDREN; ELDERLY WOMAN, REGISTRATION CENTRE; REFUGEES SIGN. Initials RGH/VS/CR/K Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 1967 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ALLENBY BRIDGE, ISRAELI-JORDAN FRONTIER
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVACX4JMRJ2EN21CEFHF17M1BN9M
  • Story Text: MORE THAN 150 ARAB REFUGEES -- FIFTY FAMILIES -- YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) BEGAN RETURNING TO THE HOMES THEY ABANDONED WHEN ISRAELI TROOPS SWEPT THROUGH JORDANIAN TERRITORY DURING THE MIDDLE EAST WAR. THE REFUGEES WERE THE FIRST REPATRIATES SELECTED BY THE RED CROSS AS SPECIAL HARDSHIP CASES.

    THE FAMILIES, MOSTLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WALKED CAREFULLY ACROSS THE MASSIVE WOODEN PLANKS WHICH SERVE AS THE ALLEN BY BRIDGE. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE BRIDGE SAW A STREAM OF REFUGEES FLEEING EASTWARDS TOWARDS JORDANIAN TERRITORY.

    AN ESTIMATED 150,000 WEST BANK RESIDENTS FLED DURING AND AFTER THE BRIEF WAR LAST MONTH. THOUSANDS ARE EXPECTED TO ACCEPT ISRAEL'S OFFER OF REPATRIATION, BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE A FORMAL APPLICATION TO GO HOME.

    ISRAELI OFFICIALS WHO WATCHED THE REFUGEES CROSS OVER YESTERDAY SAID THE SMALL-SCALE OPERATION COULD BE REGARDED AS DRESS REHEARSAL FOR MUCH LARGER OPERATIONS EXPECTED TO BEGIN WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

    ON THE ISRAELI SIDE, THE REFUGEES WERE TAKEN TEMPORARILY TO A REFUGEE CAMP FOR A MEAL AND REGISTRATION BEFORE THEY WENT ON HOME.

    ISRAELI BORDER POLICE, WITH SUB-MACHINE GUNS SLUNG OVER THEIR SHOULDERS, HELPED WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT THE ISRAELI END OF THE BRIDGE. ORANGE JUICE WAS SERVED UP WITH SOFT DRINKS AND SWEETS FOR THE CHILDREN.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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