To assist United Nations observers surveying the demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria, scene of two days of intense fighting which left one Israeli dead and an unknown number of Syrians casualties, Israel has agreed to suspend activities where bulldozer work might hinder the UN investigation.
But authoritative Israeli sources underlined that Israel has no intention of interrupting the drainage canal digging south of Lake Huleh to which the Syrians objected.
It’s action came after the new UN truce chief, Maj. Gen. Carl C. yon Horn, in his second meeting with Foreign Minister Golda Meir in three days, asked for yet another UN survey to satisfy himself that Israel’s work is, as Israel claims and as several previous UN surveys have established, on Israeli soil outside the demilitarized zone. Certain of the result, Israel has agreed in advance to accept the decision of the UN surveyors and has provided them with modern measuring instruments. The surveying is expected to be completed in a matter of days, if the Syrians do not resort again to action with machine guns, tanks and mortars.
The digging to which the Syrians objected so murderously was on the sixth and final of a series of secondary ditches meant to keep the former Huleh swamp dry and arable. As in the case of the other five canals, the Israelis informed UN truce observers in advance of their intentions, then, with UN observers in attendance, Israeli surveyors laid out the route of the canal. On the next day, when the digging equipment and laborers appeared, the Syrians opened fire.
Meanwhile, conditions appeared normal in the disputed area after the UN arranged ceasefires, but tension was great. Field workers of settlements continued their regular chores and road communication was maintained but extensive precautionary measures were taken by settlements. Israel officials reported that Syrians, for the first time in their attacks on Israel settlements, had used long range Russian-type 122-millimeter guns.
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