The Israel Cabinet today heard a report from Foreign Minister Abba Eban on developments in neighboring Jordan. Mr. Eban reported that the situation in Jordan has now been stabilized, following the recent demonstrations there against King Hussein.
The Cabinet decided today to take no action at this time on a proposal made by United Nations Secretary-General U Thant for enlarging the role of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization by adding a helicopter and a speedboat on Lake Tiberias to the UNTSO facilities.
The decision was taken after Mr. Eban reported on Mr. Thant’s suggestion to this effect made last week in a memorandum to the Security Council. Mr. Eban pointed out that the Secretary-General has not yet approached Israel on the matter, confining his suggestion only to a Security Council note. It was pointed out in the Cabinet that such suggestions had been made in the past but that neither Israel nor the Arab states had agreed to the proposals. Israel, it was noted, does not favor expanding the UNTSO into a “third force” in the area.
The Cabinet was also informed by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol that, thus far, the Government has not received official word from Washington about reported plans for sealing the Arab-Israeli borders through mechanical and electronic facilities. Mr. Eshkol told the Cabinet about his conversation here last week with U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, in which the latter queried the Israeli Premier about Israel’s reactions to recent developments in the Middle East.
(Upon his arrival last night in New York, Sen. Kennedy said that the United States Government should assure “all parties” in the Middle East that “it will guarantee the integrity of Israel.” He upheld the American attitude in the United Nations Security Council which, a week ago, censured Israel for its Nov. 13 raid into Jordan. He advocated that Israeli and Arab students in this country set up a dialogue in an attempt “to communicate better with each other.”)
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