“Grave concern” over the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, and over reports from Cairo that Egypt has appointed a military governor for the Strip, was expressed by government officials here today. The officials added, however that Israel has no information about Egyptian entry into Gaza and that, according to the information received thus far, Egyptian civilian administration has not been returned to the area.
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry declined to answer a question as to whether the latest developments in the Strip have already negated some of Israel’s “assumptions spelled out recently at the United Nation by Foreign Minister Golda Meir.
Meanwhile, Walter Eytan, director-general of the Foreign Ministry, declared in a broadcast here today that “Israel has made it perfectly clear she will not tolerate provocations” through fedayeen raids. “What is required, ” said Mr. Eytan, “is effective police action by the United Nations Emergency Force. If Egypt is allowed to spread terror in Gaza, she alone will be accountable for the consequences. “
Yesterday, the Israel Government reaffirmed a formal statement first made in 1952 to the effect that Israel will not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in any dispute with a country which refuses to recognize this State or which Israel does not recognize.
This formal statement rules out the possibility of taking to the International Court the issue of freedom of innocent passage of Israeli shipping through the Suez Canal or the Straits of Tiran, as long as Egypt does not recognize Israel. The reaffirmation of Israel’s position on this score fell due at this time because such a position must be republished every five years.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
