Wrangle over Word in Unef Resolution Delays Vote

The Security Council was scheduled to vote late this evening to extend the mandate of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in Sinai for another three months. The UNEF term was due to expire at midnight tonight.

The Council had been expected to act this morning, but the voting was delayed by prolonged behind-the-scenes wrangling over a single word in one of the preamble paragraphs of the draft resolution. The original text expressed “satisfaction” with the Egyptian government’s positive reply to the Council’s appeal Monday that it reconsider its earlier decision not to agree to extend UNEF. The Egyptians insisted that the world “appreciation” be substituted for “satisfaction.” according to diplomatic sources.

It was not expected that there would be any substantial changes in the sections of the draft resolution expressing concern “at the continued state of tension in the area and the lack of progress toward the achievement of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East”; calling upon “the parties concerned to implement immediately Security Council Resolution 338 (1973)”; deciding to “renew the mandate of the United Nations Emergency Force for a period of three months, that is, until 24 October 1975”; and requesting the Secretary General “to submit at the end of this period or at any time in the intervening period a report on the situation in the Middle East and the steps taken to implement Resolution 338 (1973).”

Earlier in the day, Ambassador Jacob Doron, acting Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN, characterized the draft resolution as “ugly” and “lopsided.” He told reporters that the preamble paragraph should also have acknowledged Israel’s consent to the renewal of the UNEF mandate. “Israel should have been given appreciation too,” Doron said.