Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg, chief United States delegate to the United Nations, today issued the following statement on the Israel-Jordan clash: “The United States is greatly concerned with continuing acts of violence in the Middle East. We strongly deplore the large-scale retaliatory raid on November 13 by Israel on Jordanian territory. We also deplore the terrorist incidents in Israel which preceded this raid.
“Our policy is against the use of force across Middle East boundaries regardless of the direction from which it comes. This concern motivated our recent Co-sponsoring in the Security Council of a resolution calling upon governments in the area to observe strictly their obligations to maintain peace and, in particular the provisions of the General Armistice Agreements.
“In the debate on this resolution, we stressed our vigorous disapproval of all such provocative acts and retaliatory measures in the Middle East recognizing the plain fact that violence breeds violence with consequences endangering peace and security in the area. Regretfully, the Security Council at its last meeting was not able to act in deterring violence across the borders because of a veto by the Soviet Union. Despite this, we together with a substantial majority of the members of the Security Council, urged restraint upon all countries concerned and we continue to do so.
“The United States strongly urges all governments to refrain from any action that might exacerbate the situation and urges all such governments to cooperate with the United Nations to keep the peace.”
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