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Ben Gurion Summons Soviet Ambassador; Explains Israel’s Attitude

July 18, 1958
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Premier David Ben Gurion conferred here for 45 minutes today with Michael Bodrov, the Soviet Ambassador, presumably to explain Israel’s attitude and interest in developments in the current Iraqi-Lebanese crisis. The Soviet envoy came at Mr. Ben Gurion’s summons.

The meeting followed the emergency meeting of the Cabinet this morning, after which Mr. Ben Gurion conferred for two hours with Mrs. Golda Meir, the Foreign Minister who is recovering from major surgery. Also present at the Ben Gurion-Meir talks was Ambassador Abba Eban, just in from the United States, Shimon Peress, director general of the Defense Ministry, and Reuven Shiloah of the Foreign Office.

The editors of Israel’s newspapers were summoned to a meeting with Premier Ben Gurion for tonight. Meetings of the Premier and editors have in the past served as a means of the Premier explaining the background of major policy decisions. The explanations are usually coupled with a request for careful handling of the news involved.

The port of Haifa was busier than usual today, with hundreds of extra workers called to the docks to load and unload freighters. Immediately after cargoes were in place, the vessels got up steam and quit the port without delay.

An estimated 100 American tourists and residents were among a large number of evacuees from Jordan allowed through the Mandelbaum Gate this afternoon into Israel. The Americans streamed into Israel in response to an urgent statement by the American Embassy in Amman to leave the country. Before the crisis developed, some 350 Americans resided in Jordan.

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