Feverish behind-the-scenes maneuvers to prevent the United Nations General Assembly from adopting a sanctions resolution against Israel were going on here today. Debate on the resolution is scheduled to start here tomorrow.
The resolution, which is being sponsored by six members of the Afro-Asian bloc, calls upon the 80 member states of the United Nations to “condemn” Israel and “to deny all military, economic or financial assistance and facilities to Israel.” Its effectiveness depends primrily upon the attitude which the United States will take toward it.
A number of countries today indicated their intention to vote against the resolution. They include France, Denmark, the Philippines and others. Britain, Canada and a number of other countries are also known to be opposed to the imposition of sanctions against Israel. Canada was reported considering asking the United Nations to demand “declarations of non-belligerency” from both Egypt and Israel.
The Netherlands delegation received today instructions from its government to vote against any resolution recommending sanctions on Israel. The view of the Netherlands Government was that further pressure on Israel is unwarranted, unless the United Nations gives Israel guarantees of free passage through international waterways and against the resumption of fedayeen activities from bases in the Gaza area.
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