The first official announcement of Israel’s objection to the arrangement by Maj. Gen. E. L. M. Burns, United Nations truce supervisor, to have UN truce observers patrol certain points along the demarcation lines in the Jerusalem and Latrun areas without prior arrangements with Israel or Jordan authorities, was made here tonight.
An Israel Army spokesman revealed that Israel Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Moshe Dayan had met with Gen. Burns on September 14 and had expressed Israel’s opposition to such patrols without prior Israel agreement, on the grounds that this was a violation of Israel sovereignty. In Israel’s opinion, the statement pointed out, UN tasks with respect to these demilitarized areas could only be carried out in the manner defined in the armistice agreement.
After the recent shooting by Arab Legionnaires in the Mt. Zion section of the Jerusalem demarcation line, the Israel General Staff proposed the erection of direct telephone communications between local commanders on both sides of the line–and a similar arrangement along the Gaza strip border held by Egypt–so that in the event of any incident immediate intervention by the commanders would be possible, the spokesman revealed.
ARMISTICE COMMISSION SCORES EGYPT; NEW BORDER INCIDENTS
Meanwhile, at a meeting of the Israel-Egyptian Mixed Armistice Commission today, Egypt was condemned for four incidents involving civilians crossing the border into Israel. In one instance, the Arabs illegally harvested about ten percent of a crop planted by Kibbutz Kissufim.
One Israeli was wounded and considerable property was damaged as a result of three incursions in the last 48 hours by infiltrating Arabs in the Egyptian and Lebanese border regions. In the Gaza area a Jewish tractor operator was shot and wounded near the Gangivati settlement and a house in the Hatzev settlement was blasted but without injury to its occupants.
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