Acting mediator Ralph Bunche today met with Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok and Israeli U.N. representative Aubrey S. Eban and demanded an immediate three-day cease-fire in the Negev, with both belligerents holding the positions which they occupy at the time of the cease-fire.
Shertok and Eban refused to commit themselves, but promised to communicate with their government in Tel Aviv on the matter. The Israeli diplomats stated bluntly that the situation in the Negev was the responsibility of the Egyptians who have consistently violated the U.N. truce.
With the U.N. Assembly’s Political Committee due to meet again early tomorrow U.N. circles were deeply interested by the political. and military implications of the latest Negev developments. A responsible Israeli source criticized the American delegation’s “tacit aid” to the Arabs in postponing a Palestine debate in the Political Committee. Although it is not certain whether the Political Committee will consider the Palestine situation tomorrow, it is expected that the Negev fighting will immediately place the question on the Security Council’s agenda.
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