Premier Meir, Eban Deny U.S. Charges of Israeli Cease-fire Breaches

Premier Golda Meir and Foreign Minister Abba Eban rejected today State Department assertions that Israel had violated “some provisions” of the current 90-day cease-fire standstill. Mrs. Meir denied the charge during an informal news conference after her heavily-guarded arrival at Kennedy Airport for talks tomorrow with President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The Foreign Minister similarly rebuffed the charges in a statement before his departure for New York to attend the 25th anniversary session of the United Nations General Assembly. Mrs. Meir said at the airport that she had not seen the report but declared “I can say that Israel is not guilty of some violations or of any violations whatsoever.” State Department spokesman Robert McCloskey declared at a briefing yesterday that there was some “evidence” that Israel reconnaissance planes had flown past a 10-kilometer limit over the Suez Canal truce zone and that Israel had “strengthened” some of its fortifications on its side of the canal. He indicated, however, that United States evidence of Egyptian violations, by introduction of new SAM missiles on its side of the canal was much more serious.

SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS STRICT FOR VISITING PREMIER

Mrs. Meir came under strict security arrangements on an El Al jet. The plane was moved to a remote section of the airport where she disembarked in the presence of U.S. Secret Service men and Port Authority police. She made a brief statement and then mounted a low platform to answer questions from reporters. Asked about reports that Israel might relax its stand on releasing Arab prisoners in exchange for hostages held by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Amman, she replied. “I’m sorry. Those who are in our prisons are men and women who have been brought to trial for killing or attempting to kill Israelis. They will have to serve their terms.” She said she hoped her meetings with President Nixon and Secretary of State Rogers would give her an opportunity to “discuss problems in the Middle East, problems which I believe we have in common with the United States.” Though details of her itinerary were being withheld, it was indicated she planned to leave for Washington today for her conferences tomorrow morning with the President and the Secretary of State. She is scheduled to be back in New York for two major addresses Sunday.

MISSILES IN ZONE. BUT ISRAEL PLANES NOT, EBAN STRESSES

(Mr. Eban observed in his Jerusalem statement that “Israeli planes are not flying over Egypt while Egyptian missiles are piling up” in the truce zone. He emphasized that “one should talk about the missiles that are there and not about planes that are not.” He charged that “the party that brought about the suspension of the peace talks” conducted briefly by UN peace emissary Gunnar Jarring at the UN “by violating the cease-fire is now blaming us for responsibility for the standstill in the talks.” He added that Israel would agree to an extension of the cease-fire, which will expire in November, but added that Israel “would like to know clearly” what it would be asked to agree to in any new arrangement. He declared that the main problem was the forward movement by Egypt of missiles on its side of the canal. He said that if the United States charges against Israel were true at all, they were trivial compared to the Egyptian violations.)