Under no circumstances will Israel consent to the return of Egyptian forces to the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister David Ben Gurion told the Israeli parliament today.
Mr. Ben Gurion made his statement in calling upon the parliament to reject a motion by Menahem Beigin, leader of the right-wing Herut Party, who had demanded a full-dress debate on the Gaza issue.
Reminding parliament that he stated a fortnight ago that no one has been authorized on behalf of the government to make any statement regarding Gaza, beyond declaring that the Egyptians will not be permitted to return to the Strip, the Prime Minister reiterated that assurance.
He told parliament that further public discussion of the subject at this time would not serve the public interest. The parliament then up held Mr. Ben Gurion, defeating Mr. Beigin’s motion by a vote of 52 to 18.
Israel’s policies about the future of the Gaza Strip and about further troop withdrawals from the Sinai Peninsula were discussed at a special meeting of the Cabinet here, last night, While, it is understood, no conclusions were reached, it is known that two of the parties in the coalition government, Achdut Avodah and Mapam, advocate open annexation of the Gaza area into Israel territory.
(At the United Nations, Egypt yesterday introduced a resolution before the General Assembly, calling for payment of reparations by Israel, Britain and France. The draft resolution was seen by observers as an effort by Egypt to establish a political bargaining point. An Israel spokesman said his country may lodge counter-claims before the United Nations for casualties and losses incurred through fedayeen raids and through Egypt’s illegal economic blockade.)
Maj. Gen. Moshe Dayan, chief of staff of the Israeli army, and Maj. Gen. E. L. M. Burns, commander of the United Nations Emergency Force, will confer for the third time tomorrow on further plans regarding Israel’s promise to the United Nations to withdraw troops from the Sinai Peninsula, The meeting tomorrow will take place at El Arish, from which Israel had reportedly promised to withdraw its forces by January 10.
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