Israel Delegation at United Nations Condemns Egypt’s Tactics

The Israel delegation at the United Nations today issued a statement condemning the anti-Israel propaganda campaign initiated by Egypt during the last few days and emphasizing that the events on which Egypt has built its campaign have never occurred.

The statement pointed out that on October 1, Ambassador Eban referred to false charges published by high Egyptian officials with respect to an alleged occupation of the demilitarized zone at El Auja by Israeli forces. Mr. Eban alluded to “hit and run” tactics by Arab Governments which propagate sensational charges for their short-term official effect, and then fail either to submit or to substantiate those charges in the appropriate United Nations organs.

“The conduct of Egypt in this propaganda adventure is a revealing example of “this policy, ” the statement said. “On September 29, the Egyptian Minister of National Guidance announced that Israeli troops had occupied an area in the demilitarized zone near E1 Ajua and had established fortifications there. This is a completely untrue statement. Egypt has discreetly refrained from submitting this highly publicized accusation to the Mixed Armistice Commission which has been in session to discuss complaints from both parties in recent days. Thus Egypt has implicitly-confirmed the untruth of its own charges.

DISCREPANCIES IN COMPLAINTS POINTED OUT

“On October 2,” the statement continued, “Egypt presented a totally different and far less spectacular charge to the Mixed Armistice Commission, alleging that Israel had illegitimately established a civilian settlement in the Auja sector, This Egyptian charge was considered by the Armistice Commission. It received no support from the United Nations representatives and was accordingly not upheld. It is evident that this peaceful civilian activity in the Auja region is entirely in accordance with the Armistice Agreement, notwithstanding the Egyptian plea to the contrary. The only request of the Commission is that police or troops should not have been included in the establishment of the village in the demilitarized zone,

“A further complaint by Egypt concerning alleged attacks on Bedouins in the demilitarized zone was upheld by the Armistice Commission, It will be observed that this is a very different complaint from the far-reaching allegation that Israeli troops had occupied an area in the demilitarized zone. The fact is that the incident complained of arose out of indiscriminate attacks on civilians by lawless Bedouins in the area. In a number of cases these have come before and have elicited the condemnation of the Mixed Armistice Commission.

“These findings confirm the irresponsibility of the publicity campaign recently initiated by Egypt, ” the statement emphasized. “No events of the character described by Egypt occurred in the area concerned; the only incidents under consideration by the Mixed Armistice Commission are those which are part of its routine consideration, and on which no final verdict is yet available.

“On the other hand, complaints by Israel of penetration into Israel by Egyptian land and air forces in the first week of October have been submitted in a regular procedure to the Mixed Armistice Commission and are now under consideration, ” the statement concluded.