The United States, which issued a stinging condemnation of the Israeli action against Jordan called in the Security Council tonight for full Israel and Jordan cooperation with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in establishing cease-fire observers along the Jordan in posting U.N. observers along the Israeli-Jordan cease-fire lines. The proposal was made as the Security Council met in special session at the request of both Jordan and Israel to hear their charges and counter charges.
Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg told the Council that the United States viewed the situation with great concern and deplored the terrorism and the military counteraction. He called the recourse to force a peril to the Jarring peace mission. The American representative said that no useful purpose would be served by calumny and name-calling and said the important task was to strengthen the mechanism for peacemaking and the role of the United Nations in the area. The Soviet delegate called the Israeli action a “piratical raid” and said Israel relied on the western powers in “carrying out its aggression.”
Ambassador Muhammed El-Farrah, of Jordan, the first speaker, accused Israel of a “criminal attack” and demanded that the Security Council impose sanctions. He warned that delay by the Council would “make the problem more explosive, more dangerous and a greater threat to world peace.”
Ambassador Yosef Tekoah of Israel, in his reply, charged Jordan with persistent violation of the cease-fire agreement and failure to prevent its territory from being used as a base for attacks on Israel. The cease-fire line, he said, “has become a line of fire and death.” The Israeli envoy told the Council that 37 terrorist acts had been mounted from Jordan territory in recent weeks “and the Jordan Government has not acted to stem these attacks.”
The French representative termed the Israeli action “reprehensible” and said it was out of all proportion to the provocation. He said the acts of terrorism were an inevitable consequence of an armed occupation. He called from prompt and full compliance with the Security Council’s Nov. 22 resolution and for withdrawal of the Israeli forces.
All the Arab states had been invited to take seats at the Council table along with Jordan and Israel and all were expected to seek the Council floor in the course of the debate. The Council, which was to have met this afternoon to discuss the Rhodesian question, gave priority to the Jordan-Israel dispute and deferred action on the former issue.
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