Nearly 100 Members of Parliament, of all parties, have signed a motion expressing support of Israel’s refusal to quit the Akaba and Gaza areas pending effective guarantees of security and freedom of passage through the Akaba waterway, it was revealed in Commons today. The motion, introduced by Laborite E. W. Short, expresses the view that unguaranteed withdrawals would not be “in the interests of peace.”
Addressing a public meeting here last night, Laborite Richard Crossman indicated that the national executive of the party, of which he is a member, favors demilitarization of the Sinai Peninsula and internationalization of the Gaza Strip. He further stated that Israel is morally and legally entitled to defy the United Nations withdrawal resolutions if by complying her national security would be endangered.
The British Government refused to take to the Security Council the Israel-Egyptian dispute, with special reference to the question of freedom of navigation through the Akaba waterway and the administration of the Gaza Strip. The refusal came on a suggestion by Eric Johnson, Conservative, who pointed out that Egypt’s claim to a state of war with Israel made referral of the dispute to the Security Council proper.
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