St. Joseph Gazette · 26 June 1967

CP-1967-027

Israelis Allowing Arabs Into West Bank Sector

Associated Press, Allenby Bridge, Jordan

Scan 516 × 998 pixels

Transcribed from the clipping

“ALLENBY BRIDGE, Jordan (AP) — Israelis let Arab refugees return to their homes in the Israeli-occupied sector of Jordan on Sunday, apparently in a reversal of a previous policy. But the stream of refugees into eastern Jordan from the Israeli sector continued.

Israeli guards on Allenby Bridge were allowing Arabs who had fled the Israeli occupation earlier to return to their homes on the west bank of the Jordan River. Arabs seeking to return last week were turned back.

The day’s exodus from the Israeli sector ran smoothly in contrast to previous days and no shooting was heard from the western end of this damaged bridge across the river. Several groups of women and children were allowed back, even being helped by Israeli soldiers. Fathers seeking contact with families on the west bank also were able to get over.

According to unofficial estimates, between 4,000 and 5,000 people crossed eastward and more than 100 went westward by midday Sunday either to return home or to bring out members of their families. The refugees moved eastward into Transjordan at a rate of 600 an hour at the peak period.

There was no panic and little hysteria, in marked contrast to the rush days of the exodus in the middle of last week. The refugees appeared to be better organized. They were able to bring with them more of their household possessions.

Sewing machines, tape recorders, tables, chairs, beds and bulky mattresses were carried across the rickety improvised footbridge placed on the broken steel girders.”

Context added by this archive

Four to five thousand going east and a hundred going west, in one day, three weeks after the war. Six hundred an hour at the peak. The paper counts the furniture they carried over the broken girders. Printed beside an advertisement headed “Facts You Should Know About Car Insurance.”

Cite this clipping

More from the 1960s

• Arabs Call Unity Meeting For Israel OppositionThe Arizona Republic · 2 January 1967
• Middle East Pots Boiling on New Year'sTulsa World · 2 January 1967
• New Blow At Jordan ThreatenedThe Clarksdale Press Register · 3 January 1967
• PLO Plans To Strike At HusseinClovis News-Journal · 3 January 1967
• Even in War, Bethlehem Has Air of Tourist TownThe New York Times · 10 June 1967
• JERUSALEM ARABS DIVIDED ON FUTUREThe New York Times · 12 June 1967
• All 227 clippings from the 1960s →