United States officials branded today as “patently false” the charges by Egypt and Syria that the United States was urging Israel to attack Syria. American authorities said the United States was avoiding assessment of blame for recent terrorism, and stressed that America believes the United Nations machinery is the instrument to prevent and deal with any further incidents.
It was pointed out that Washington policy makers wish to prevent an “escalation” or “explosion” in the Near East at a time when the United States is concentrating maximum efforts on the Viet Nam conflict and the forthcoming journey of President Johnson. The United States has made known that it deplored violence in the Near East and is concerned lest an escalation occur. These views, similar to past responses to border friction in the Near East, represent present American thinking, it was stated.
Israel Ambassador Avraham Harman, on Israeli initiative, called yesterday at the Department of State to voice Israeli concern over the gravity of the situation and the escalating chain of Syrian terrorist attacks. He asked the United States to take diplomatic steps to restrain Syria. He also met with Joseph Sisco, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizational Affairs.
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