Text of Arab Response to Bernadotte Plan, 5 July 48
“(1) The proposals are another copy of Partition which led to the present armed clashes and which achieved the aspirations of one party in the dispute while Arab aspirations and rights are ignored, although they are the legitimate owners of Palestine.
(2) The proposals consider Trans-Jordan as part of Palestine, which is a false assumption. The link between Palestine and Trans-Jordan does not only exceed the authority of the Mediator, but confirm Zionist claims that Palestine and Trans-Jordan are one country, claims which cannot be accepted.
(3) While the Partition Plan confines immigration to areas assigned to the Jews under this plan, the Mediator’s suggestion gives the Jews a chance of wider-scale immigration to all Palestine and to Trans-Jordan too.
Your observers must have recorded all acts which gave the Jews advantages over the other side, as hundreds of immigrants of military age entered Palestine during the truce, in addition to large quantities of weapons and ammunition.
The Jews consolidated their positions, occupied a number of strategic positions and were able to supply some of their besieged forces.
Source: al Masri, July 5, 1948
