NABLUS (Jordan, West Bank): Israel is today [Dec 31] strengthening its defence positions along the Jordan river, which divides Israeli-held territory from the Jordan Kingdom. `We never stop improving our defences,` an Israeli officer in charge of the famous river told [the agency].

Barbed wire and mines are now being used at some points to deter saboteurs from crossing the river from Jordan. The saboteurs are also hunted by jeep patrols.

The correspondent visited the scene when he joined an Israeli army patrol boat, bumping along a rutted track along the river in a jeep.

The Israeli side of the river is bordered by ranges of small clay hills, some of them with fixed observation points have been set up.

At this time of year, the zigzagging Jordan is a swollen, f ast running muddy river, but at many points is not more than ten metres across and is still easily fordable. Agency [Meanwhile, as reported by an agency in Cairo,] sixty persons will go on trial here next month on charges of taking part in a plot last August, Vice-President Hussein el-Shafei announced yesterday [Dec 30].

Mr El Shafei will be Chief Judge. He said indictments would be made public next week.

Marshal Abdul Hakim Amer committed suicide when the plot was foiled.