Acting United Nations truce chief Col. Bennet de Ridder today called upon both Israel and Syria to withdraw all military and paramilitary forces to a half-kilometer beyond the demilitarized demarcation line. He called for this withdrawal to be effective as of 0900 hours Greenwich Time (5 A.M. New York Daylight Time) tomorrow morning.
The U.N. truce chief asked that this measure be accepted without conditions by both sides so as to create an atmosphere for the convening of the Israeli-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett immediately informed Col, Be Ridder that Israel refused to accept his call on the grounds that it was out of the scope of the armistice agreement. The Israeli Acting Premier pointed out that the de Bidder letter did not call for removal of all military and paramilitary forces from the demilitarized zone Itself. He told the United Nations representative that Israel was prepared to honor the cease-fire agreement reached May 4.
In concluding his answer to Col. Be Ridder, Mr. Sharett pointed out that the truce-chief’s demand was not within the framework of the Armistice Commission and said be saw no reason why the Armistice Commission should not resume its normal activities on the basis of the armistice.
Mr. Sharett received the Ministers of the Soviet Union, France and Turkey and acquainted them with the situation on the Israel-Syrian border. He explained the Israel Government’s serious view of the Syrian aggression. This is the first time since the Israel-Syrian dispute began that the Soviet envoy has showed any interest in the matter.
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