Barrel Incident (1952)

The Mount Scopus area runs north and includes Mount of Olives, which overlooks the city of Jerusalem. After the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Jordan had control of Mount Olives with exception of land containing the Hadassah Medical Center and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which were under administration by the United Nations who allowed Israel to maintain police guards in these areas under UNTSO supervision.[1]

Every 2 weeks a convoy would cross from Jerusalem into Jordanian territory through Mandelbaum Gate to provide supplies and a change of guard to this Israeli police force.

On June 4, during a regular convoy check a UN guard dropped a test rod into an oil drum, which struck a metal object in the center, unable to reach the bottom. Commandant Delseries, the French UN Observer in charge of the Scopus convoy checks, ordered the barrel off the truck and sent for tools to open it. The Israeli truck driver quickly sped off back into Jerusalem, leaving the barrel behind in no-man's land.

Before tools to open the barrel could be acquired, Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Ramati violated the General Armistice Agreement by moving with Israeli soldiers into no-man's land, demanding the return of the barrel, before ordering his soldiers roll it back to Jerusalem themselves. Firearms of the observing Jordanians were audibly cocked at this point, to which UN Guards and Observers attempted to deescalate the situation by placing their feet on the barrel, refusing to allow the Israeli soldiers to roll it. MAC Chairman Major General Bennett L. de Ridder managed to defuse the situation by offering to bring the barrel back to UN MAC Headquarters and hold it until a decision was made by UNTSO Chief of Staff Lieutenant General William E. Riley.[1][3]

The barrel was taken back to UN MAC Headquarters in Jerusalem. General Riley, who was in New York at this time, granted permission for HJK-I-MAC to open the barrel on June 20 at 1230 (IST). On June 20 at 1200 (IST) three Israeli officers armed with pistols supported by two Israeli soldiers armed with Thompson submachine guns stormed UN MAC Headquarters with the later stationing themselves outside the door to the room containing the barrel, claiming the right to do so as the Headquarters was within Israeli territory. General de Ridder set up a guard of his own and communications watch, while the Israeli officers started taking all incoming calls.[1][3][4]

American Captain John Schofield went home to get his camera. A scene was set where Commandant Delseries attempted to reach for the lock of the door leading to the barrel room, to which the Israeli guards would block him and Schofield would take a picture of it. This was repeated in order to ensure good lighting. Upon hearing of this, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Moshe Sharett issued an Aide-Memoire demanding the replacement of all UN Staff involved.

The Israelis ultimately placed another lock on the barrel room door, and stole the key to the UN MAC Headquarters, which was locked at night. Elmo H. Hutchison called Chairman of ISMAC Colonel Samuel Taxis, the senior United States officer present, when the Israelis refused Hutchison's request to leave the door open one night. Taxis managed to convince the Israelis to leave the door open, however they still retained the key to Headquarters.[1]

When General Riley arrived he successfully demanded the withdrawal of the Aide-Memoire for the photograph and condemned Israel both for crossing into no-man's land and for taking over UN Headquarters. On July 10 at 0902 (IST) the Israeli officers and soldiers were withdrawn from the building. Soon General Riley arrived, along with delegates from Israel and Jordan, and crowded into the barrel room. To the surprise of the UN Staff, Riley did not order it opened but instead requested a dipping rod. The dipping rod was dropped into the barrel, and did not go within six inches of the bottom, and when slanted towards the center it struck an unknown object. This was repeated until General Riley determined that the barrel contained matter other than fuel oil, thus violating manifest as an item not part of the convoy, and ordered it returned to Israel.[1]

The Jordanians were incensed Riley refused to open the barrel. In stating the barrel was not part of the convoy since its contents were not part of the manifest, General Riley essentially gave the Israelis a free pass to smuggle as they wished.[1]

UN Headquarters was moved to Mandelbaum Gate, within no-man's land, to ensure the Israelis could not take it over in the future.

• Folke Bernadotte