Israel’s Cabinet approved at its regular weekly meeting here today a proposal that contacts between the Government and foreign envoys in Israel must take place only in Jerusalem. The proposal was made by Foreign Minister Abba Eban in reporting to the Cabinet on the need for “guarding the status of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.” Many of the embassies of major nations, including those of the United States, Britain and the USSR, are located outside of Jerusalem, questioning the status of the city as the capital.
Mr. Eban proposed also that all international gatherings and all activities connected with international events be held only in Jerusalem. He said that he would also ask the Knesset (Parliament) not to schedule any meetings of parliamentary committees for sites outside the capital.
In approving the Foreign Minister’s proposals, the Cabinet voted to establish a special committee to work out details for guarding this city’s status as the capital. It was decided also that, when Prime Minister Levi Eshkol returns from his current visit to African countries, he would reactivate a ministerial committee charged with transferring to this city all Government branches that now still have their headquarters outside Jerusalem.
On another issue, the Cabinet decided to adopt soon a set of rules to govern the reburial in Israel of the remains of persons who die abroad. This was done on the basis of a report made by Minister of Health Israel Barzilai, who said that the number of requests for such transfers has increased recently, necessitating the working out of procedures in that regard. The Cabinet named a committee to establish rules on this issue. Members of the committee are Mr. Barzilai; Dr. Zorah Warhaftig, Minister of Religious Affairs; and Y.S. Shapiro, Minister of Justice.
Acting Premier Pinhas Sapir told the Cabinet that Lt. Gen. Moshe Dayan, Israel’s former chief of staff, and now a member of the Knesset, will not be permitted to wear his army uniform when he goes to South Vietnam, where he is to act as a correspondent for an Israeli newspaper. Mr. Eban told the Cabinet that Mr. Dayan’s journey to South Vietnam had been arranged without consultation or coordination with the Government. Therefore, said Mr. Eban, the Government is not responsible for the journey or for anything that may be done or written during that trip.
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