Israel Cabinet Discusses Argentine Ultimatum; Firm on Eichmann

Israel’s Cabinet, after discussing the Argentine Government’s ultimatum, which calls for the return to Buenos Aires within a week of Nazi killer Adolf Eichmann, decided today to instruct Arieh Levavi, Israel’s Ambassador to Argentina, to continue contacts with the Argentine Foreign Ministry on this issue. He was ordered to keep pursuing the matter on the diplomatic level, in an effort to negotiate a modus vivendi.

In spite of official secrecy on today’s Cabinet meeting — the regularly scheduled Sunday session of the Cabinet–it was learned that Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion’s letter to Argentine President Arturo Frondizi: was adopted as the basis of the Government’s policy regarding the Argentine ultimatum. the policy, in brief, is to arraign Eichmann in Israel. Members of the Cabinet reportedly accepted Mr. Ben-Gurion’s letter to President Frondizi as the Government’s last word on the Argentine demand.

Israeli circles still reportedly hope that a way may be found out of the apparent Israeli-Argentine impasse. However, Israel ‘s determination not to return Eichmann to Buenos Aires seems firm. Public opinion throughout the country is overwhelmingly opposed to the thought of surrendering Eichmann, even at the possible cost of the deterioration of Israeli-Argentine relations.

Mr. Ben-Gurion’s meeting with the Cabinet today was his last session prior to his departure for a series of State visits to France, The Netherlands and Belgium, The Premier is due to start his visit in France Tuesday. During Mr. Ben-Gurion’s absence, the Acting Premier will be Finance Minister Levi Eshkol, The latter, presumably, will also act as temporary Foreign Minister, since Mrs. Golda Meir is now on a visit in the United States.