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Israel to Present View to U.N. on the “small War” in Jerusalem

July 19, 1954
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The Israel Government will, within a few days, present a memorandum to the United Nations Security Council outlining the developments of the three-day “small war” which took place in Jerusalem early this month, when Jordanians started to shell the Jewish part of the city from their position on the walls of the Old City.

In an announcement here today, the Israel Government said that Ambassador Abba Eban, head of the Israel delegation at the United Nations, has been instructed to discuss the memorandum with the chairman of the Security Council and its members. The memorandum will also deal with the failure of the part of Maj. Gen. Vagn Bennike, UN truce chief, to fix the responsibility for the Jerusalem shooting.

Dr. Walter Eytan, Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yesterday received Gen. Bennike and made to him the following statement on behalf of the Israel Government:

“No only the Government of Israel, but all those anxious to see peace prevail in this area, and particularly in this city, must feel profoundly disturbed by the inability of the UN machinery to fix responsibility for the wanton violation of peace in Jerusalem.

“The fact that a painstaking investigation carried out by UN observers failed to lead to eventual identification and censure of the guilty party is liable to undermine the moral authority of the UN and serve as encouragement for further violence. This is the second time within the last four months that a major outrage committed against Israel is not brought home to its perpetrators who thus, escape international condemnation and must feel that their evil deeds can be repeated with impunity.”

KIDNAPPED ISRAEL SOLDIER RETURNED BY EGYPT

Meanwhile, the Israel-Egyptian Mixed Armistice Commission this week-end adopted a resolution condemning Egypt for attacking an Israeli patrol on July 8 in the Gaza area. At the same time, the Commission also censured Israel for crossing into Egyptian-held territory in the Gaza sector of the border and attacking there an Egyptian frontier post.

An Israeli soldier kidnapped by Egyptian forces near Kissafim, in the Gaza strip demilitarized zone, last March, was returned to the Israeli authorities this week-end. His release had been ordered months ago by the Israel-Egyptian Mixed Armistice Commission.

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