Eban Reports to U.N. Security Council on New Syrian Invasion of Israel

Addressing the United Nations Security Council with “deep urgency,” Israeli permanent delegate Abban Eban today charged Syria with an act of aggression within the terms of Chapter Seven of the U.N. Charter.

Reading a statement from the Israel Government which he had just received before the Council convened to discuss again the Israel-Syrian border dispute, Mr. Eban informed the Council of the entry of a ” considerable force” of Syrian soldiers into the demilitarized zone which opened fire on Israelis who withdrew with a total of four casualties, including three killed.

He said that Israel’s troops were engaging the Syrian unites, which had crossed the zone, and that no Israeli troops had entered the demilitarized area. He told the Council that ” there is no doubt” that the action constituted aggression under the Charter, as well as a violation of the demilitarized zone, a violation of the demarcation line between Syria and Israel and a violation of the armistice agreement. He expressed hope that the Security Council would act with promptness in the face of “the grave events” and would order a withdrawal of Syrian forces.

(In Jerusalem, an Israel Government spokesman announced tonight that Ambassador Eban had been instructed to take “urgent action” at the Security Council session. The instructions, the spokesman said, came from a Cabinet meeting. He added that the Israel Government takes a very grave view of the latest Syrian invasion and that it “will not tolerate such a brazen violation of the armistice agreement, nor the penetration of Israel territory.” The spokesman also said that the fighting was still in progress.)

Speaking for Syria, Faris el Khouri Bey said that he had no knowledge of the incident from his government and noted that there had been no information of it from the Acting Chairman of the Armistice Commission. He also expressed doubt as to the veracity of the Tel Aviv report. He suggested that the Council wait for information from its own observers on the spot. Eban had relayed to the Council that Tel Aviv had called U.N. observers to the combat area.

After observing that the Eban report was very disturbing, Warren Austin of the United States called for careful consideration of the case on the part of the Council and began an hour-long series of questions to Maj. Gen. William Riley, U.N. Palestine Truce Supervisor, concerning the general dispute over the Huleh drainage project.