Lt. Gen. Odd Bull, the United Nations supervisor of the Arab-Israeli cease-fire operations, proposed here today that both Israel and Egypt agree to extend “indefinitely” the month-long agreement for banning small-boat traffic by either side in the Suez Canal.
The agreement, reached by both sides July 27, was due to expire today. It provided that the only ship traffic to be allowed in the canal would be small Egyptian launches providing food and other supplies to foreign ships marooned in the waterway since Egypt blocked it at the outbreak of the June war. Gen. Bull now wants to extend it without limitation as to date. Israel has held right along that, since it occupies the east bank of the canal, while Egypt remains on the west bank, ship traffic should be enjoyed either by both sides or by neither.
It was believed here today that Israel would accept the new “indefinite” arrangement — if Egypt does. Such an agreement would amount to full recognition of Israel’s presence on the shores of the canal, and could also do away with the sporadic friction in the Suez area between Egypt and Israel.
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.
