Prediction was made here today that Israel may revive its insistence on the right of passage through the Suez Canal for ships flying the Israeli flag, should Egypt continue to seize Israel cargoes on other ships passing the Canal. It was also suggested that Israel might dispatch a “test ship” through the Suez Canal as part of such a reaction.
These reports emerged as the morning daily, Lamerhav, reported that the UAR seized and unloaded an Israel cargo from a third foreign vessel passing through the Suez. The story identified the ship as a Greek vessel, the Nicolas Caires, which left Haifa several days ago with 5, 000 tons of cement and 5, 000 tons of scrap iron destined for Hong Kong and Japan. However, there was no confirmation of the alleged third stoppage and confiscation.
It was reliably reported that Israel representatives have given solemn warnings to leading Western countries that the confiscations might result in a new and very dangerous Middle East crisis, because Israel considers passage of Israel cargoes thought the Suez Canal the “first line of defense” of freedom of navigation.
The evening press reported that Israel had asked Western Powers, particularly the United States, to oppose a World Bank Loan for Suez modernization and repair, if the UAR continued to block Suez passage of Israel goods.
Political sources asserted that, if the report about the Nicolas Caires was correct, it would confirm predictions that diplomatic pressures on Cairo–which the Western Powers had advised Israel to test before taking more forceful steps–would not be effective.
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