The Israel delegation here issued a statement summarizing Israel’s position on implementation of the General Assembly resolutions calling for withdrawal of its armed forces. It pointed out that an area of 50, 000 square kilometers of Egyptian territory has been evacuated in Sinai and that proposals have been made by Israel on the Gaza and Akaba areas.
“In conversations with the UN Secretary General, the Israel representative, Ambassador Abba Eban, sought an assurance from Egypt of mutual abstention from belligerent acts, and raised the question of Sharmel Sheikh, which is the last area of Sinai under Israel’s control, ” the statement said, “The main points submitted by Israel in these negotiations have been:
“1. declaration that Israel will cooperate with any United Nations effort designed to establish peace in the area based on the United Nations Charter.
“2. A request to the Secretary General to ask the Government of Egypt whether it agrees to the mutual and full abstention from belligerent acts by land, air and sea on the withdrawal of Israel troops.
“3. A reference to the Sharmel Sheikh area and the related question of measures designed to prevent interference with free navigation in the Strait of Tiran and in the Gulf of Akaba.
“The Israel representative pointed out that a renewal of interference with shipping bound to and from Elath would be a hostile act and thus have the opposite result to thai sought by the United Nations, ” the statement continued. “Accordingly, he asked whether on the withdrawal of Israel forces from the Sharmel Sheikh area the United Nations Emergency Force would be so deployed as to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Akaba until a permanent and agreed arrangement were reached.
“It will be recalled, ” the statement pointed out, “that the United States and other governments have advocated a solution on these lines and that the second resolution is based on the assumption of a solution of this kind. The Israel Government believes that a positive response to these questions from all concerned will facilitate the fulfillment of the United Nations objectives as set forth in the General Assembly resolutions.
“It is awaiting a response to the points which it has raised and upon their receipt it will continue its efforts to reach a solution to the problems dealt with in the General Assembly resolutions,” the statement concluded.
Later, a spokesman for the Israel delegation amplified the statement somewhat by declaring: “Israel’s proposals do envisage withdrawal of armed forces from both areas. In accordance with the objectives of the second resolution, we believe that the withdrawal should be accompanied by related measures in order to prevent the renewal of hostile acts.”
It was noted that the spokesman’s amplification, referring to the Gaza area, spoke only of Israel’s willingness to withdraw “armed forces” but did not mention Israels stand regarding the retention of the civil administration of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Israel’s delegation chief, Abba Eban Eban, pointedly refrained today from seeing Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold. It was understood he was awaiting an answer from Egypt, via Mr. Hammarskjold, to the key question of further exercise of what Cairo calls the “right to belligerence. ” Without an answer–whatever its contents, positive or negative–the Israelis here apparently felt that further talks with Mr. Hammarskjold could serve no useful purpose.
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