Israel Says U. N. Will Be Tested by Attitude to Direct Peace Talks

Israel’s Foreign Minister Golda Meir emphasized that the United Nations will be tested and judged by its desire to solve the Middle East situation by forcing the Arab states to enter into direct peace negotiations with Israel. She spoke at a mass meeting of the Mapai Party this week-end. The UN, she said, will retain its moral validity only if it carries out the fundamental principle of the UN Charter-establishing peace between states.

Israel’s purpose in starting its action against Egypt, which have been achieved, according to Mrs. Meir, were: “To root out centers for murderers; destroy Nasser’s army; oust the enemy from territory which never belonged to him; obtain freedom of passage for Israeli ships in the Suez Canal, and operate the port of Elath.”

She praised the valor and spirit of Israel’s troops, noting that their military victory had proved that it was not tank against tank which had won the battles, but the spirit of the Israeli troops who were convinced of the justice of their cause and who wished to build in peace. This force had defeated a regular army which had been unwilling to sacrifice its life for Nasser, Mrs. Meir insisted.

Information revealed by Israeli military sources during the week-end said that Egypt lost some 3,000 soldiers killed and 4,000 captured in the Sinai campaign as well as some $50,000,000 worth of war materiel. Among the vast stores of booty captured by Israel’s troops were: some 600,000 gallons of gasoline in three huge dumps; 100 tanks, half of which were Soviet-manufactured; 1,000 vehicles of all sorts; 100 Bren gun carriers; 200 pieces of artillery of Soviet design, and 7,000 tons of ammunition. The Israelis also captured a complete radar installation, Russian-made.