Israel Ambassador Abba Eban told the State Department today of the Israel Government’s concern over “open competition instigated by Syria for great power action against Israel in connection with pending UN Security Council consideration of the December 12 Israel-Syrian clash.
Mr. Eban met with Francis O Wilcox, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, to explain the Israel viewpoint. After talking with Mr. Wilcox, the Israel Ambassador told the press that a Soviet Union resolution condemning Israel was the only one he knew of. He said he understood the situation in the Security Council and the Middle East was under discussion by Western members of the Council.
Mr. Eban said Syria obviously places reliance on the Soviet Union and pointed out he could see no reason why the United States and its allies should favor Syria’s proposals for condemnation of Israel. He said the Soviet resolution found no fault with Syria for breaking the armistice. He drew a parallel between action by Syria and similar strategy of other Arab states, notably Egypt, outside the UN, involving attempts to play off the major world blocs, one against the other, for Arab advantage.
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