Several military attaches of the Western Powers, accompanied by high ranking officers of the Israeli Army, today made an inspection of the Huleh region where a conflict has been in progress between Israel and Syria over the drainage of the Huleh swamps.
Members of the United Nations Truce staff today proposed that a second meeting be held between high military officers of Syria and Israel in an attempt to settle the dispute. Syria allegedly agreed to accept the proposal, but Israel maintains that there is nothing to discuss regarding the drainage project since Israeli authorities are engaged in carrying out a development scheme which has nothing to do with the military situation.
Arab sources today reported that Syria will shortly submit a complaint to the United Nations against Israel for “violating the armistice agreement.” The same sources reported that Syria is continuing to concentrate troops on its border in the Huleh region.
The reclamation work was not resumed today by the Israeli workers. A military spokesman here said that “neither Israeli military units nor military weapons, apart from regular police rifles, are to be found in the demilitarized zone of the Huleh.” It is understood that the Israeli authorities may agree to attend a meeting of the Israeli-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission if the Syrians do not resume firing upon Israeli workers engaged in draining the swamps.
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