British Circles Disagree with Israel on Civilian Control of Demilitarized Zone

Although the British Foreign Office has refrained from making any comment on the Israel-Syrian dispute, circles close to the Foreign Office refuse to accept Israel’s point of view that the demilitarized zone is Israeli territory and therefore subject to Israeli civilian control. These same circles suggest that administrative problems raised in relation to the area must be solved by agreement through the Mixed Armistice Commission.

During a debate in Commons last night, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Kenneth Younger reiterated the British Government’s view that while the Palestine Arab refugees who wish to return to their former homes have the right to do so, it is in the interest of the refugees themselves that the majority of them should be resettled in the neighboring Arab countries. He said that the British Government, which has indicated this position in the United Nations, has found that this view is shared “to a considerable extent” by other states represented in the U.N.