The second phase of Israel’s withdrawal of troops from the Sinai Peninsula, eastward from E1 Arish, will require further discussions with United Nations officials, high-ranking Israel officials stated here today.
So far, these sources said, the United Nations has not as yet given Israel any guarantees against a renewal of Egyptian aggression against this country, once all troops are withdrawn. The United Nations will bear a heavy responsibility, Israel circles pointed out, if it helps only to restore the “status quo ante” of blockade, violence and bloodshed, perhaps even in greater intensity than prior to the Sinai action.
Israel, a high source stated, is ready to implement faithfully its promise to with-draw its troops. However, Israel expects the United Nations to see to it that Egypt also lives up fully to the General Assembly’s resolution of November 2, which called for “cessation of all hostilities” by all governments, including Egypt.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Chief of Staff, Gen. Moshe Dayan, and Maj Gen, E. L. M. Burns, commander of the United Nations Emergency Force, held their third meeting today to make arrangements for further Israel troop withdrawals in the Sinai Peninsula.
Gen. Burns said the U. N. troops have already reached a depth of 75 miles into the Sinai Peninsula, and that Indian contingents advancing southwards had reached the Red Sea. He added that United Nations Emergency Force units would keep a “great distance” between Israeli and Egyptian forces.
The old secondary road between Beersheba and Elath is being rebuilt into a first class highway, it was announced here today by Mordecai Bentov. Minister of Development! The new highway, approximately 145 miles in length, will be completed by the middle of next summer, Mr. Bentov said.
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.
