Syrian Envoy in Washington Voices Military Threat Against Israel

Farid Zeineddine, Syrian Ambassador to Washington, today called a special press conference to warn against what he described as “Israel troop concentrations” in the Tiberias area and “appalling Israel. gunboat attacks” on Syrian territory on the northeastern shore of Lake Tiberias. He said that “countries neighboring Palestine feel they may be called on to use their right of defense.”

(On Lake Tiberias, the Syrian troops dug in on the northeastern bank today opened fire on Israeli fishing boats for the third straight day. Israel has renewed its protest to the UN-chaired Mixed Armistice Commission.)

The Ambassador suggested that mounting tension has reached such a grave point that the United States and other countries which sell arms to Israel should re-examine their policy in the interests of world peace. He said it had been determined that Israel arms used on Lake Tiberias were of American manufacture. The Ambassador also alleged that Israeli aircraft had violated Syrian air space in this vicinity in connection with the general military build-up and that not only had Syrian positions been fired on by the Israeli boats, but also a Syrian village had been attacked by the vessels. The planes, he said, were on reconnaissance flights.