The Israel Cabinet reportedly discussed today the Soviet note to Israel last Friday protesting against the overflights of Israel territory by British troop carrying planes from Cyprus to Jordan.
The Foreign Ministry thus far has refrained from commenting on the Soviet note, which observers here see as a gesture toward the Arabs which costs Moscow nothing. The Foreign Ministry is understood to be drafting a reply to the Kremlin and the Cabinet probably discussed the outlines of that note. It is presumed that the reply will explain Israel’s reasons for allowing the overflights.
When the Middle East crisis flared white hot a fortnight ago, Premier David Ben Gurion called on Moscow to back its protestations of desiring peace in the Middle East by intervening in behalf of direct Arab-Israel negotiations. At the same time, the Premier asked the USSR to supply Israel with the same arms it had sent the Arab states. The only reply was the note of protest against the overflights.
ISRAEL DENIES ASKING KHRUSHCHEV TO ARRANGE A BEN GURION-NASSER MEETING
The Israel Consulate here today issued a statement denying press reports that Premier Ben Gurion asked Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev to arrange a meeting between him and Col. Nasser, President of the United Arab Republic. The statement reads:
“Reports appearing in the press concerning an alleged communique by Prime Minister Ben Gurion to Mr. Khrushchev with the request to arrange a meeting with Col. Nasser are unfounded. No such communique has been issued.
“It is a standing policy of the Israel Government to be prepared to meet any Arab Government for direct discussions any time. This standing policy has been made known on many occasions to the United States, the Soviet Union and other interested Governments. This, however, is totally different from the assertion that any specific initiative has been taken as alleged in the report. “
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