Israel authorities view with concern a new development in Israel-Egyptian relations which consists in the Arabs appealing to a special mixed commission against decisions of the regular Israel-Egyptian Mixed Armistice Commission.
In the latest incident, the Egyptians have asked for a ruling from the special body on a decision of the MAC which censured the Egyptians for firing on an Israeli patrol in the Gaza strip area and ordered the former to return an Israeli soldier kidnapped in the incident. The Egyptians have appealed the decision, refusing to return the kidnapped soldier while the appeal is pending.
The Israelis have protested acceptance of the appeal by the special commission, insisting that it was set up only to deal with matters which were not included in the armistice agreement or where the armistice pact was ambiguous. However, Gen. Vagn Bennike, head of the UN truce supervision organization, has instructed the UN chairman of the MAC to permit the appeal. In the interim, the MAC decision has been suspended.
The Israelis note that the special mixed unit, which until now has not been called into session in three years and ten months, has suddenly acquired 11 cases for its consideration.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
