Col. Bennet H. de Ridder, acting United Nations truce chief, will come here tomorrow to discuss the Israel-Syrian border dispute with top-ranking Israel Foreign Ministry officials, it was announced here today. These talks will follow a three-hour meeting held last night at Ras el Nakura, on the Israel-Lebanon frontier, between Col de Ridder and Lieut. Col. Shaul Ramati, chief Israel delegate to the Israel-Syrian Mixed Aruistice Commission.
The Israel military spokesman said that United Nations observers had been willing and had actually attempted to reach the neighborhood of Ein Gev, southeast of Lake Tiberias, yesterday, to investigate a new outbreak when Arabs opened fire on an Israel police patrol, but were unable to obtain assurances from the Syrian authorities that they would not be exposed to fire.
The spokesman disclosed that in the meeting with Col. de Ridder last night, the Israel representative filed a new complaint charging Syria with violation of Israel airspace. Syrian aircraft, the complaint charged, have been flying over the demilitarized zones and also over Israel defensive areas for the last four days in violation of the armistice terms. The spokesman said the United Nations chief of staff had received direct confirmation of these charges from U.N. observers.
ISRAEL AND SYRIA REQUESTED TO AGREE TO FOUR BASIC POINTS
The meeting last night resulted in a “full and frank” discussion of recent events in the demilitarized zone and on the mixed armistice commission, the spokesman said. Col. de Ridder, who previously had expressed his deep sorrow over the slaying of seven Israeli policemen in the demilitarized zone, again expressed his deep regret to Col. Ramati.
The spokesman said that agreement had been reached on four points as requisites to be met before the Israel-Syrian Armistice Commission could be reconvened. Official statements would be required from both Syria and Israel that:
1. All military and para-military forces would be withdrawn and will not reenter the demilitarized zone.
2. That there will not be further firing under any circumstances across the demarcation lines or within the demilitarized zones.
3. That United Nations observers will be given every facility to carry out their work.
4. That the responsibility of the chairman of the mixed armistice commission to implement Article Five of the armistice (return to normal civilian life in the demilitarized zones) will be reaffirmed.
Competent circles here generally understand that with reference to this last point, Israel has its own specific views on the interpretation of “normal civilian life,” but considers that the question of the Huleh drainage project is beyond the competence of the truce supervision machinery.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
