The Israel Foreign Ministry confirmed today reports that the Soviet Union is sending back its Ambassador. Alexander Abramov, who was recalled from Israel during the height of the Sinai Suez crisis to underscore the Kremlin’s dissatisfaction with Israel’s part in that series of actions, Mr. Abramov is expected here during the first week in January.
Political observers believe that Abramov’s return will be the precursor of a new Middle East “peace, offensive” to be undertaken by the Soviet Union The “peace offensive” is likely to be launched in the United Nations General Assembly, and is expected to be based on the United Nations’ 1947 resolution which had called for partition of Palestine Under that scheme. Israel would be truncated, much of its present territory being allotted to the Arab states.
Abramov’s return is also regarded here as possibly a warning to Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser against tightening his relations with the United States. Reports that Abramov’s return might also bring a resumption by the Soviet Union of oil shipments to Israel were regarded here as premature.” The Kremlin stopped all oil shipments to Israel during the crisis in November, as another sign of its displeasure with Israel’s campaign in the Sinai.
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