Israel will reject any division of administrative authority in the demilitarized zone along the Israel-Syrian border, such as proposed by Gen. E. L. M. Burns, United Nations truce supervisor, it was learned here after last night’s meeting of the Israel Cabinet.
The Cabinet heard reports on the situation along the Syrian frontier, including the capture and imprisonment of a five-man military patrol, one of whose members committed suicide in a Damascus prison last week. The Ministers also discussed Gen. Burns’ proposal to divide the demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria and the Security Council’s discussion of the Israel complaint on the Egyptian seizure of the Bat Galim.
The Israel view of the Burns plan is that it will not agree to any proposal which will put Syrians in administrative control of the demilitarized zone, no matter how temporary the control is. At present, Israel administers the zone alone, since none of the demilitarized area lies within Syria. At present, any dispute about the zone is discussed between Israel representatives and the UN chairman of the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission. The reason for such a special set-up is to exclude Syria, which is represented on the full MAC, from a voice in the administration of the zone.
The Israel view is that Gen. Burns’ proposal disregards the special nature of the zone and the special nature of the set-up for handling problems in the area. The special committee was provided for in the Israel-Syrian armistice agreement.
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