Israel and Syria have agreed to permit United Nations observers to visit demilitarized and defensive zones on their border in accordance with a suggestion offered by General Carl C. von Horn, Chief of the UN Truce Supervision Organization, it was announced here today.
It was reported that the proposal was made to Israel’s Foreign Ministry last Friday as one step by UNTSO to ease the tensions arising in the Lake Tiberias area from repeated Syrian gun attacks on Israeli fishermen and police launches and a reprisal raid earlier this month. Israel agreed promptly but Syria apparently withheld approval until Tuesday.
Under the agreement UN observers will visit the areas to determine whether there have been any large-scale troop concentrations and building of fortifications which would be contrary to terms of the Israel-Syrian mixed armistice pact. Informed sources here said that the agreement did not represent a new position for Israel which has permitted UN observers to make such visits to Israeli positions without limitations.
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