The Government of Saudi Arabia delivered today a sharp protest to the United Nations against Israeli naval maneuvers in the Gulf of Akaba and warned that it reserves to itself “the full right to defend its vital interests and its territorial integrity.”
Today’s protest was the second from Saudi Arabia in connection with Israel’s insistence that it has the right to exercise freedom of passage in the Gulf of Akaba and the Strait of Tiran. Abdullah al-Khayyal, permanent representative of Saudi Arabia here, addressed the first protest to Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold on April 12.
Israeli circles here said they knew of neither a “provocation” nor a “challenge” of the type referred to in the Saudi Arabian communication. “If Saudi Arabia keeps the peace,” the Israelis said, “she has nothing to fear from Israel. “
In today’s letter the Saudi Arabian representative declared that Israel has “continued aggression which threatens the security and peace” of the Gulf of Akaba area over which Saudi Arabia has sovereignty. The letter detailed a number of trips by Israeli destroyers, frigates and military airplanes which, according to the protest,”engaged in maneuvers near the western coast of the Gulf of Akaba situated between Elath and Dhabah and crossed toward the Saudi Arabian, eastern coast of the gulf. “
“Such acts in which Israel is engaging against Saudi Arabia’s territorial waters,” the letter continued, “is naught but a continuation of Israeli aggression. They are at the same time a provocation and a challenge,” The Saudi Arabian requested that Mr. Hammarskjold’s office circulate the letter to all members of the UN, specifically to Security Council members.
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