Soviet Sponsors Arab Resolution Against Israel at Security Council

The United Nations Security Council made public today the text of a communication submitted last night by the Soviet delegation sponsoring–with slight modifications–the Syrian resolution against Israel presented last month following Israel’s retaliatory raid on Syrian positions near Lake Tiberias. Syria is not a member of the Security Council and her resolution could not therefore, be taken to a vote unless sponsored by a Council member.

The Soviet communication, singed by Soviet delegate. Arkady Soboley, asks the president of the Security Council to-put to the vote the draft resolution introduced by the delegation of Syria. “It suggests the deletion from that resolution of paragraphs requesting the expulsion of Israel from the United Nations and the immediate application of sanctions against Israel, but it “condemns” Israel for the “outrageous attack” against Syria and requests the Security Council to warn Israel of economic and military sanctions in the event of “future occurrences” of actions such as the one at Lake Tiberias.

The Soviet resolution, which will be considered at the meeting of the Security Council on Thursday, demands that Israel pay compensation to Syria, “for lose and damage to Life and property” caused by the attack. It insists that the Security Council decide that Israel’s action was a violation of the Syrian Israel armistice agreement and of Israel’s obligations under the UN Charter. It claims that “further military action by Israel tends to disturb the peace and security” of the Middle East, and it urges the Security Council to call upon Israel “to take all necessary measures to prevent” further raids.

This is the first time the Soviet Union has sponsored a resolution dealing with the Arab-Israel issue. The Soviet action precipitated hurried consultations today between the delegations of the United States, Britain and France which have prepared their own joint resolution for submission to Thursday’s Council meeting. The Soviet move was viewed by Western circles as another propaganda maneuvre by Moscow to win over the Arab world. The Western resolution has not been made public yet, but it is known to ask the Security Council to censure Israel.