The Egyptian Government yesterday protested to the United Nations Security Council that the Israeli authorities had seized an Egyptian ship, the Samir, last January 4th, while it was en route from Beirut with a cargo of supplies for Arab refugees under the supervision of the UN Relief and Works Agency. The Egyptian letter asserted that the vessel had been captured outside Israel waters, that the crew had been arrested and that Israel had refused to allow an investigation of the incident.
(In Cairo yesterday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mahmoud denied a New York Times report that a “distinguished individual” had established new contacts between Israel and Egypt by acting as a go-between in a series of private conferences between Dr. Fawzi and Israel officials. Dr. Fawzi said that Egypt did not contemplate peace talks, adding that he had his “own ideas” as to the motives behind the report and that it was not the first time such a thing had happened, nor was it likely to be the last.
(In Tel Aviv, Foreign Ministry circles also denied the Times story, asserting that they knew nothing of such contacts or any other reported peace moves. The Times report said that Premier Ben Gurion and Foreign Minister Sharett, informed of the Egyptian Foreign Minister’s views on peace conditions, were “by no means totally negative” in their reaction.)
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