Israel accused Syria today of a “premeditated policy” of aggression evidenced by the “continuation and intensification of Syrian acts of aggression in contravention of the cease-fire” between March 15-18 and continuing this morning. The charges were contained in a letter to Secretary General Kurt Waldheim from Israel’s UN Ambassador Yosef Tekoah.
Tekoah charged that Syrian forces had perpetrated 21 artillery attacks between March 15-18 including one against a civilian community and had also carried out one anti-tank missile attack and opened small arms fire in one other instance. Israel lodged complaints against these acts with United Nations Observer headquarters, Tekoah wrote and the UN observers’ reports have confirmed the Syrian attacks which have resulted in casualties, he said.
He stated further, “This morning, Syrian artillery has continued to shell Israeli forces even after Israel had agreed to proposals made to both sides by the UN observers for a cease-fire.” Tekoah asserted that the Syrian armed attacks “confirm once more Syria’s premeditated policy of aggression as enunciated by Syrian leaders in their recent public statements.” He requested the circulation of his letter as an official document of the General Assembly and the Security Council.
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