Evening star., 1949-12-14
Israel Premier
In Jerusalem
To SET Up Rule
Ben-Gurion's Arrival
Climoxes Transfer
In Defiance of U. N.
BY the Associated Press

in Jerusalem to set up his govern
ment in the disputed Holy City in
defiance of United Nations plan
for internationalization.
The silver-haired, 64-year-
chief of government arrived just
before noon. without fanfare or
ceremony, drove to a hotel where
the flag of Israel was hoisted, and
began an informal conference
with his ministers and officials.
His arrival climaxed a transfer
OF government ministries which
has been going on quietly ever
since peace was restored to the
city after the end of the Arab
Jewish Palestine war. In the
shadow of the walls of the Old
City, occupied and patrolled by
soldiers of Hashemite Jordan, the
Israeli officials went methodically
about the business of setting gov
ernmental functions in motion.
Foreign Office Won't Move.
The Prime Ministry is the sew
enth of the Israeli ministries to be
installed in headquarters in Jeru-
salem. The foreign minister, how
ever, is remaining in Tel Aviv at
least for the time being.
Jewish residents of the Holy
City always have regarded 1t as
the eternal capital" of Israel, but
these moves, coming so quickly
after the U. N. decision to make
this an international area, have
been carried out in an atmosphere
Of deadly seriousness.
Today's Palestine Post said it is
fully realized that powerful
forces have been set in motion by
the Assembly's decision" These
forces, said the editorial, will not
be swept aside by a political dec
laration alone on the part OF Is
rael."
"Today's courageous move by
the Israeli government comes as
a great relief, but it is only a |
first step and it will need deter
mined and well-considered action
in the future to protect It against |
all outside Intervention, the pa
per said.
The Israeli Knesset (Parlia-
ment) will meet here in the jew
ish Agency Building in about 10
days, according to an announce
ment by Mr.. Ben-Gurion before
he left Tel Aviv.
Applauded Briefly.
Mr.. Ben-Gurion arrived in a
black limousine with motorcycle
and jeep escort. Crowds on the
streets applauded briefly and then
went about their daily business. No
official welcome had been ar
ranged. The people seemed to
take for granted the establish
ment of government Offices here.
and to look on the establishment
of a capital at Tel Aviv in May,
1948, as a temporary measure
which had been occasioned by the
Palestine war.
However. the Israeli Foreign Of
flee is not expected to go to
Jerusalem for the time being.
There has been no proclamation,
as such. of Jerusalem as the Off
cial legal capital of this country,
and government spokesmen said
no affront was meant to the
United Nations. which has voted
internationalization. In the United
Nations it was reported that the
Israeli decisions could well wreck
the General Assembly's plans.
DR.. Walter Eytan, director gen.
eral of the Israeli Ministry of For
eign Affairs, informed foreign dip
lomats yesterday Of the govern
ment's decision to move Offices to
the Holy City.
Mr.. Ben-Gurion, before he left
Tel Aviv, conferred with the Par
liamentary and Legal Committee
which has been studying the i'm
plications of the U. N. decisions.
He told the committee that the
Israeli rationing and supply min
lister, DR.. Bernard Joseph, already
had gone on to Jerusalem earlier
in the day. He added that Mr..
Joseph, who was military governor
of the Jewish-held section of Jeru-
salem when it was besieged by the
Arabs last year. would coordinate
arrangements for accommodation
of the members of Parliament
here.
At Lake Success the 12-nation
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