The Security Council resumed debate today on the tense situation along Israel’s borders with a demand by Jordan that the Council invoke “economic sanctions” against Israel for its reprisal raid across the Jordanian border on November 13.
Mohammed El Farra, permanent representative of Jordan to the United Nations, called on the Council to include five specific measures in any resolution it adopts. The measures were: 1. a condemnation of the attack of November 13; 2. an expression of “grave concern at the failure of Israel to comply with its obligations”; 3. a decision that the act was “a flagrant violation of the Charter and the Armistice Agreement”; 4. a decision that the act “constitutes aggression under the provisions of Article 39 of the Charter”; and 5. a call to United Nations members to “adopt necessary measures for applying economic sanctions against Israel.”
Ambassador Michael Comay, Israel’s Permanent Representative, told the Council that Israel’s action had not taken place in a vacuum but in an atmosphere of great danger for Israel’s border villages. He reminded the Council that the Arab Governments had the responsibility to prevent use of their territory for attacks on Israel and Israel held Jordan directly responsible for this commitment.
Citing the terrorist attacks on Israel as the cause of tension in the area, Ambassador Comay stressed the responsibility of the Security Council to maintain peace and called upon the members of the body to take into account the events of terror that led up to the reprisal raid. Urging the adoption of even-handed measures that would lead to progress and peace, Mr. Comay said: “Israel seeks above all a chance to live in peace and freedom from attack.”
ISRAEL CHARGES U.N. TRUCE CHIEF WITH INCORRECT REPORT ON RAID
In a letter submitted to the Security Council today, Ambassador Comay said that the account of the raid as given in the report of U.N. Truce Supervision Chief, Gen. Odd Bull, was “based on hearsay,” and “exaggerated and inaccurate” testimony by Jordanian witnesses. In correcting what he called inaccuracies in the report, Mr. Comay stressed the following points:
1. The number of houses demolished was far less than the number stated in the report.
2. The total civilian casualties were 3 killed and 17 injured with 10 of the latter suffering minor injuries.
3. The military casualties were 15 killed and 37 wounded (29 lightly) on the Jordan side, and 1 killed and 10 wounded on the Israel side.
4. The number of Israel tanks used in the area of the incident was 10. None of them were Patton tanks.
5. The total number of personnel involved was under 400, most of whom were needed to ensure evacuation of the houses to prevent casualties.
6. There was no bombardment or strafing from the air. The sole intervention by Israel aircraft was by four planes that intercepted four Jordanian planes attempting to attack the Israeli ground force. One of the Jordanian planes was shot down and no Israel plane fired at any ground target.
7. There was no artillery shelling.
Ambassador Comay reiterated in the letter that the “sole objective of the Israel action was to demolish a limited number of empty houses after their occupants had been evacuated. This was done as a warning against aiding and harboring saboteur and terrorist groups that had been carrying out a number of raids into Israel in that sector of the border.”
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