Puzzlement as to the role which the United States, Britain and France are playing with regard to Israel’s complaint to the United Nations Security Council against Egypt’s blockade of Israel-bound shipping through the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba was expressed here today following the failure of the Security Council to decide last Friday on a course of action against Egypt.
It was originally expected that a resolution reaffirming in a stronger form the 1951 UN resolution against Egypt’s blockade of Israel-bound vessels would be proposed at Friday’s meeting. Instead, the meeting adjourned with no resolution being proposed and without even setting a date for the next meeting. This is being interpreted in some circles here to mean that the Big Three, while interested in Israel’s complaint, nevertheless hesitate to back it actively and openly at the risk of antagonizing the Arabs.
In a long address at Friday’s meeting, Mahmoud Azmi, head of the Egyptian delegation at the UN, nade it clear that Egypt does not intend to give up its practice of “visit and search” of ships passing through the Suez Canal to or from Israel. Mr. Azmi, who spoke for an hour and a half, bitterly attacked Israel. He contested that Egypt’s regulations concerning Israel-bound shipping violated the UN Charter, the Egyptian-Israeli armistice agreement and the Constantinople Convention of 1888 on the Suez Canal. Egypt, still in a state of war with Israel, was only exercising its legitimate rights as a belligerent, Dr. Azmi argued.
Israel Ambassador Eban told the Council there was “not the slightest justification in any instrument of law” for the Egyptian restrictions. They could be lifted without the slightest sacrifice t Egypt’s economy, sovereignty or dignity. Dr. Azmi’s statement. Mr. Eban said, had given the Security Council the clearest picture so far of the “head-on collission” between Egypt and the principles laid down by the Security Council. The reaffirmation of the 1951 resolution” in far stronger form.” accompanied by action to bring about observation of compliance, was the “minimal duty” of the Council, he concluded.
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