Egyptian charges that Israel’s army had failed to respect the cultural riches of the ancient St. Catherine’s Monastery, on the Sinai Peninsual, were proved untrue today through a report brought here by Dr. Louis Gailland, Swiss representation of the International Red Cross. He made his report not only to the Red Cross but also to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Far from failing to respect the shrine, which contains historical materials valued by Jews and Christians, the Israel army has treated the ancient documents at St. Catherine’s with great respect, Dr. Gailland declared. He visited the monastery after Egypt had made the charges of desecration against Israel’s army. Israel government authorities expressed the opinion that Egypt intends to desecrate the shrine after Israel’s troops had been withdrawn, in order to blame the destruction upon Israel.
Dr. Gailland said he inspected the library of the monastery and found that ancient manuscripts there had been untouched. Furthermore, he said, the Israeli troops are supplying the monks at St. Catherine’s with flour so that the members of the Christian order there could continue their tradition of throwing bread to the Bedouins outside the monastery walls.
Today, in order to get another report on the false Egyptian charges, the government asked the Metropolitan Isidorus, of Nazaroth, Greek Orthodox Church dignitary to visit the monastery. Metropolitan Isidorus let this morning for the shrine in Southern Sinai.
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