After an unsuccessful attempt at rescuing some 1,500 passengers aboard a French liner aground four miles south of Beirut, the Lebanese authorities today permitted Israeli tugs to enter Lebanese waters to assist the stricken vessel.
Previously, the Lebanese had banned the Israeli tugs, despite Israel’s insistence that international law as well as humanitarian considerations would keep the Israelis from leaving the scene with the 12,546 ton liner “Champollion” in danger. The vessel, which was in danger of breaking up in heavy seas, had sent out an SOS.
An Israeli military, spokesman revealed that Israeli authorities had received three different messages on the “Champollion” from the Lebanese representatives on the Mixed Armistice Commission. The first announced that the Lebanese had succeeded in refloating the liner, the second admitted failure byt prohibited the entrance of the Israeli naval tugs into Lebanese waters, while the final message granted permission. It was learned that during the unsuccessful Lebanese attempts one Lebanese boat was capsized.
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