Israel Suggests U.N. Security Council Adopt Resolution Condemning Syria

Israel today suggested to the Security Council here that it adopt a resolution condemning “all violations” by Syria of the Israel-Syrian Armistice Agreement of 1949, calling upon it “to abide fully by all the provisions of the agreement and in particular, to refrain from forays into Israel territory.” The Israeli suggestion would also call upon Syria “to desist from any threats against the territorial integrity or political independence of Israel.”

The suggestion was made by Michael S. Comay, chairman of the Israel delegation, after a resolution sternly condemning Israel for “wanton attack” and issuing a Council warning of possible sanctions against Israel, was introduced by Salah Terazi, of Syria.

Mr. Comay delivered a brief, but firm reply to Mr. Terazi, who had addressed the Council for a full hour, repeating all the traditional anti-Israel charges voiced here over the years by Arab delegations. Today’s meeting was attended by Major General Carl C. von Horn, Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, who had been summoned here to clarify for the Council the issues and actions surrounding Syrian and Israeli charges and counter-charges of aggression which culminated in an Israeli military action against Syrian gunpost positions on March 17.

Various members of the Council directed questions to General von Horn, who is scheduled to reply to all of the questions when the Council resumes its Israel-Syrian debate tomorrow afternoon.

U.S.A. ASKS WHETHER UNTSO COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE

The Unites States delegation, which had proposed that General von Horn be brought here, asked the following questions: 1.”Can you suggest ways in which UNTSO’s effectiveness could be increased? 2. Is UNTSO afforded the necessary freedom of movement which is essential to the performance of its responsibilities under the General Armistice Agreement? 3. Does General von Horn have any suggestions as to how observance of the Armistice Agreement with special reference to deployment of forces in the demilitarized zone and the defensive area could be improved? 4. Could he comment further in addition to the remarks in his report on the status of the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission?”

In his report of a week ago, General Von Horn had pointed out that the Israel-Syrian MAC has not been effective since 1951. Mohamed H. E1-Zayyat, of the United Arab Republic, a member of the Council, had asked the General the same question about the MAC, which, he said, Israel was boycotting. He also asked General von Horn whether he expects “further Israeli attacks against Syrian territory.” Platon D. Morozov, of the Soviet Union, asked the UNTSO chief whether he knew how long it had taken Israel to prepare for the March 17 attack. Alex Quaison-Sackey, of Ghana, asked the General whether he could report on violations of the Armistice Agreement by either Syria or Israel in the past six months and what UNTSO has done to prevent such violations.

Mr. Comay’s suggested resolution came as a distinct surprise to the Council. However, neither the Israeli suggestion nor the Syrian draft can come to a vote unless such resolutions are sponsored by a member of the Council. Neither Syria nor Israel holds Council membership.

Replying to a challenge by the Syrian to state Israel’s objectives, Mr. Comay said: “All we want is peace with our neighbors. If our neighbors refuse to negotiate peace, we insist upon freedom from attack and aggression. We will not acquiesce to any impairment of our rights. My Government looks to the Security Council to take action on our complaints.”