Israel Finds Security Council “retreating” from Its Suez Canal Stand

The United Nations Security Council debate on the Egyptian declaration with regard to the operation of the Suez Canal, which ended last Friday with an agreement for a “trial period” of the unilateral Egyptian position, represents a “retreat and a weakening” of former declarations on freedom of navigation in the canal, Israeli officials asserted here today. Israel had expected the Security Council debate last Friday to reaffirm and strengthen the principle of freedom of Suez navigation.

Maintaining that the question of Israeli Suez passage is the only effective means immediately available for testing the sincerity and good intentions of the Egyptian declaration, Israeli officials said it was evident from the talks “certain diplomats” had with Cairo officials that Egypt has no intention of honoring Israel’s right of passage. The reference to “certain diplomats” apparently meant UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskiold und U.S. Ambassador to E Raymond Hare, both of whom carried on lengthy negotiations with the Nasser Government on the future of Suez Canal control.

The Israeli officials stressed that the Egyptian declaration is unilateral and that registering it with the United Nations does not make it an international instrument, Noting that Egypt has not even suggested that other nations sign the declaration, the Israelis said that Egypt apparently was afraid that Israel might add its signature in any such official recognition of the declaration.

Earlier a Foreign Ministry spokesman had asserted that Israel sees no reason to appeal to the International Court of Justice at The Hague on Suez Canal transit rights and does not intend to do so. The statement was made in indirect comment on the assertion by Mr. Hammarskjold last Thursday that the final determination of the transit issue would probably rest with The Hague court. The Foreign Ministry here takes the view that the Security Council, which Israel considers the highest international authority, has twice ordered Egypt to permit unhampered transit of Israeli shipping.

Asked whether the United States had advised Israel not to send a test ship through the Suez Canal-a procedure which the Israeli delegation at the UN said Friday would be undertaken” in due course and time “–Foreign Ministry officials revealed for the first time that the issue was raised. They said that about three weeks ago “United States opinion was that Israel should act with prudence.”

The Israeli officials stressed that the United States advice concerned the question of timing and not the principle of Israeli passage. They stressed that Israel never intended to “jump ahead of the queue” in using the Canal before the general question of Canal management was clarified. They also emphasized that Canal passage was “vital for Israel and Israel will vigilantly pursue the exercise of that right.”