Israel Ambassador Abba Eban today said that he will be in a position tomorrow to announce at the United Nations General Assembly the final decision of the Israel Government of the withdrawal of troops. He cited the position stated by Foreign Minister Golda Meir on Friday as the present policy of Israel.
Participating in a national television program, Mr. Eban made it known that Israel intends to send ships through the Strait of Tiran after it withdraws its troops and will combat, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, any aggressive acts against her shipping. He also stated that Israel would regard continued blockade of its shipping in a reopened Suez Canal as warlike act.
Mrs. Meir, in her declaration Friday at the UN General Assembly, said that Israel is ready to withdraw fully and promptly from the Akaba area “in the confidence that there will be continued freedom of navigation for international and Israeli shipping in the Gulf of Akaba and through the Strait of Tiran.” The United States and “other leading maritime powers” had signified their intention to exercise their rights of free and innocent passage in the Gulf and the Strait, she stated. Israel was resolved to ‘ protect” ships of its own flag doing so, and any armed interference would be regarded by Israel as an attack entitling her to take all necessary measures in self-defense, under Article 51 of the Charter, she declared.
As for Gaza, the Government of Israel was making a complete withdrawal on the assumption that the take-over of Gaza from the military and civilian control of Israel would be exclusively by UNEF and that the United Nations would take over administration of the area “until there is a peace settlement, to be sought as rapidly as possible, or a definitive agreement on the future of the Gaza Strip. “
If conditions were created there which indicated a return to the previous conditions of “deterioration, ” she said, Israel reserved its freedom “to act to defend its rights.”
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