An American spokesman today asked again for unconditional withdrawal of Israel from all positions formerly held by Egypt. When asked what bargaining power the Jewish State would have if it did this, he intimated that Israel, having violated the peace, is not entitled to bargaining power.
Asked if there was any hope that the Arab states, and particularly Egypt, would agree on the basic principle of no return to the status quo ante–to an end of belligerence and blockade–the spokesman replied that he did not think it reasonable to expect a country that has been attacked to yield to conditions of the attacker.
He was asked if his insistence on the return to the status quo into was not inconsistent with Secretary of State Dulles’ statement that there should not be a return to the past He said the U S is aware that some practical problems will remain after compliance by Israel Asked specifically what these problems would be, he answered that one would be free transit in the waterways and another would be real effective policing.
The mystery around UN headquarters is why the American spokesman keeps reiterating the demand for Israel’s withdrawal from the Akaba positions without any prior commitments as to freedom for Israeli navigation when it is known that his delegation, as well as the State Department. has been pressuring Mr. Hammarskjold to go beyond the position he has taken regarding the matter.
The Secretary General s position as revealed in his report today, is that while he understands Israel’s rights in demanding free passage through the Straits of Tiran and the Gulf of Akaba this is beyond the terms of his mandate as given to him in the Assembly resolution demanding the withdrawal of outside forces from Egyptian territory.
It is understood that the American position on the matter, which the spokesman did not reflect in his briefings of the press is that Mr. Hammarskold can and should go beyond this and declare that UNEF would remained until some sort of modus vivendi could be worked out between Israel and Egypt regarding Israel’s right to use the seaway without fear of attack or blockade.
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.
