On 12 July, shortly after the ceasefire ended, fighting broke out again. The Israelis, who had undertaken feverish military preparations in the intervals, immediately captured Nazareth, Lydd and Ramleh, and other strategic areas. The Arab governments once again vowed the total destruction of Israel. Again the Security Council met to try and restore peace.
The Soviet Union and the United States joined this time in demanding strong action to stop the fighting, and to ensure the continued survival of the young state of Israel. Reservations to the use of Chapter VII were now everywhere abandoned. On 15 July a new resolution was passed stating unequivocally that the situation in Palestine constituted a 'threat to the peace' within the meaning of Article 39 of the Charter, 'ordering' a ceasefire, and declaring that any failure to comply with this call would demonstrate the existence of a 'breach of the peace', which might require action under Chapter VII.
The more peremptory tone of this resolution secured an even more prompt response than before. Israel, having already achieved substantial territorial gains, announced her acceptance the following day. The Arabs accepted a ceasefire for Jerusalem on 17 July; and on the next day, with evident reluctance, they announced that because of the threat of sanctions they too would accept the general ceasefire.
This time the truce was even less effectively observed than before. There was sporadic fighting everywhere. By the middle of August there were open hostilities, especially in the Latrun sector (where Arab guerrillas destroyed the water supply) and in Jerusalem. Much of the activity was now by 'irregulars', by snipers, night raids and bomb attacks, rather than by the regular armed forces on either side. The Israeli Government gave notice that, unless the truce was better observed, they might abrogate the agreement.
On 18 August the mediator himself asked the Council to meet to consider the serious situation that had arisen because of constant violations of the ceasefire. On 19 August the Council met again. It now passed a new US resolution declaring that each party had the obligation to ensure respect for the cease fire by all individuals and groups in its own territory, whether regular or irregular, and that neither side should be allowed to gain any military or political advantage through violation of the truce. Again for a period there was some improvement; but sporadic raids and outbreaks of violence continued to take place.
1916: the War of Attrition
