Israel is lodging a formal protest with the Union Postale Universal in Geneva against the “unilateral” action of the Government of Morocco in severing postal relations with Israel, Government sources said today.
Israel post office authorities disclosed yesterday that Morocco had returned two sacks of mail addressed to Jews in Morocco with the explanation that as a member of the Arab League, Morocco was required to abide by all aspects of the League’s policies, including its anti-Israel activities.
Israel considers the action a flagrant violation of the postal convention to which both countries are signatories, the sources said, adding that the matter may also be raised in diplomatic actions and at the United Nations. Senior post office officials said that the normal monthly traffic between the two countries ranged from 20,000 to 30,000 pieces of mail in each direction.
Alarmed North African residents in Israel suggested the idea of delivering all mail for relatives in Morocco direct to United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold’s headquarters at the United Nations with a request that he see to delivery. Emotion-packed meetings of Moroccan Jews were held in Israel to protest the Moroccan action.
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