The Israel Government decided today to make a strong protest to the United Nations Security Council against continued interference by the Egyptian authorities with Israel maritime traffic through the Suez Canal. The new complaint was based on Egyptian handling of the Norwegian freighter Mars, under Israel charter, which was held for four days before being permitted through the waterway and was not allowed to take on drinking water or fresh foodstuffs.
The decision to make the protest was made at the insistence of the Foreign Ministry over the objections of the Ministries of Finance and Commerce and of Israel shipping interests. These objections, apparently, were based on fears that emphasis placed on difficulties met by ships under Israel charter might cause higher chartering rates and insurance.
The Foreign Ministry, however, overruled this stand, taking the position that Israel should protest strongly and thoroughly air Arab violations of international law in efforts to enforce an anti-Israel boycott.
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