Israel Protests Latest Egyptian Truce Violation in Demilitarized Zone

The Israel Government once again protested today against Egyptian refusal to live up to the terms of the general armistice agreement in the Nitzana–El Auja–demilitarized zone between Israel and the Sinai Peninsula.

Pointing to yesterday’s attack on two United Nations observers by Egyptian troops in the zone, an Israel Foreign Ministry spokesman understand that Egypt continues to keep troops in the zone in violation of the armistice pact and a special agreement recently hammered out by UN truce chief Maj. Gen. E.L.M. Burns to remove both Israel and Egyptian troops from the Nitzana area.

The Israel spokesman further noted that Egypt refuses to permit UN investigation of Israel’s earlier charges of violation of agreement. He said that when the Egyptians last Thursday prevented UN and Israel surveyors from marking the international border in the Nitzana zone, as had been provided in the armistice and Burns’ pacts, Israel was forced to resume marking the border along the edges of its own territory.

The attack on the two UN observers yesterday came from Egyptian posts within the demilitarized zone. The hail of shots forced the observers to discontinue their inspection tour and to hastily abandon their two jeeps. When Israel police, summoned by the UN chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission, came upon the observers they were attempting to return to Nitzana on foot. The MAC chairman addressed a stiff protest to the Egyptians, pointing out that the observers, although traveling in Israel territory, were riding in white-painted jeeps which were clearly recognizable.

One Israel soldier was wounded today in an exchange of fire between Jordanian troops and an Israel border patrol in the vicinity of the Qualqilya “triangle” in Central Israel. The Israel patrol was twice brought under automatic rifle fire from Jordan positions across the line.