The Security Council will meet Thursday morning to consider the anti-Israel grievance filed last week by Jordan, which complained that Israel is “endangering international peace and security” by scheduling a military parade to be held in Jerusalem in celebration of Israel’s 13th anniversary. The announcement that the meeting has been scheduled was made by T.B. Subasinghe, of Ceylon, this month’s president of the Council.
The decision to convene the Council on the Jordanian complaint was made reluctantly. Most members of the Council were known to hold the opinion that the Jordanian complaint did not deserve full-dress debate as demanded by the Amman Government. However, there was equal reluctance to a firm stand against holding a meeting and so, by default, the meeting was scheduled.
Arthur Lourie, Israel’s Ambassador to Great Britain, who is acting as permanent representative here since Michael S. Comay went into a hospital last week, will defend Israel’s position against the Jordanian complaint. Abdel Monem Rifai will argue the case for Jordan. Israel’s position is simply this: There is no valid complaint; Jordan itself had in the last 15 months brought into the Old City of Jerusalem various heavy armaments and jet aircraft, without Israel complaining; Israel plans on having no aircraft in the April 20 military parade which will be “purely ceremonial,” and the heavy armor to be shown will be without ammunition.
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