The stand of the Israel Government with regard to the immediate future of the Gaza Strip and the area commanding the Gulf of Akaba–now held by Israel–was outlined in a memorandum submitted here today to United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold by Ambassador Abba Eban, head of the Israel delegation. Mr. Eban and Mr. Hammarskjold conferred for about one hour following the presentation of the memorandum, the contents of which remained secret.
The points made by Israel in its memorandum will have to be taken into consideration by Mr. Hammarskjold when he presents his report to the General Assembly on Friday on the extent of Israel’s withdrawal of its armed forces from Egyptian territory. The General Assembly, in a resolution adopted last Saturday, asked Israel to withdraw its troops from all of Sinai and the Gaza Strip within five days.
It is understood that Israel, which completed yesterday the withdrawal of its troops from all other parts of Sinai, is ready to evacuate the area commanding the Straits of Tiran and the Gulf of Akaba providing it is occupied by the United Nations Emergency Force, with UNEF’s functions, length of stay and conditions that must exist before UNEF is withdrawn to be definitively laid down by a General Assembly decision. It is Israel’s contention that all conditions for full freedom of passage for all shipping through the Tiran-Akaba waterway must be met before UNEF’s stay is terminated.
With regard to the Gaza Strip, Israel wants it to be demilitarized with no UNEF or any other military forces there. It insists on stationing only local police in the Gaza area, under Israel’s supervision. The civil administration, public utilities and economy are to be tied in with Israel’s corresponding functions, but the overall administration of the Gaza Strip by Israel is to have a relationship to the United Nations.
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