An Israel delegation spokesman declared today that the Huleh marshes being reclaimed lie within Israel’s territory and that the drainage project is in full accord with provisions of the armistice agreement with Syria which call for facilitating ” the transition from the present truce to permanent peace in Palestine.”
The spokesman cited a March 21 report of truce supervisor Major Gen. William E. Riley to the U.N. Security Council which declared: ” In draining the Huleh marshes, the Israelis are performing works of a civilian nature for the purpose of reclaiming land for cultivation. This work affects land in the territory under Israel control. Therefore Syria cannot on any grounds offer objections to this type of work.”
Asserting that Israel found no inconsistency between the Huleh development scheme and the armistice agreement, the Israel spokesman said the Syrian protest to the Security Council had no foundation either in fact or in law. Meanwhile, Syria’s United Nations representative, Faris el Khouri, today addressed a second protest against Israel to the president of the Security Council. His communication alleged the “illegal evacuation by force” of 980 Arabs from the region of Baqqara by Israel police.
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