Israel Voiced Reservations at U.N. on Sanctions, Expulsion Steps

Israel was clearly on record here today as opposing some of the harsher terms in a General Assembly resolution calling upon the Security Council to consider possible expulsion of South Africa if the latter country does not alter its racist policies of apartheid. Israel is also opposed to another clause in that resolution calling for a break of diplomatic relations with South Africa and for the interruption of trade with that country.

Israel voted for the resolution as a whole in a plenary session of the Assembly yesterday, but only after the body had turned down efforts to ballot on separate clauses in the draft including those opposed by Israel. Ambassador Abraham Darom, Israelis representative in the Assembly’s Special Political Committee, which had previously passed the identical resolution, had told that group, prior to the voting, that Israel was convinced some of the clauses “go beyond what the Assembly could properly ask of sovereign states.”

Concerning the clause calling for banning trade and diplomatic relations, Mr. Darom had stated: “Each Government is obliged to exercise its own best judgment, and then to account to its Parliament and its people for its action.” Concerning the article requesting the Security Council to consider South African expulsion from UN membership, Israel declared it “does not consider that such a step would be conducive to the result which it sought.” “On the contrary,” Israel declared, “if South Africa ceased to be a member of this Organization, the possibility of influencing its policies would be greatly diminished, and such action would, therefore, be self-defeating.”

After stating his Government’s objections to some of the clauses, Mr. Darom declared: “My delegation will vote for the resolution as a whole, even if it contained the particular paragraphs on the formulation of which I have expressed certain reservations. We would do so because we are mindful, above everything, of the need for the United Nations to take a clear and strong stand on any matter which concerns policies of racial discrimination.” In the final voting on the entire resolution, Israel joined 66 other members in voting “yes,” while 16 voted against, and 23 abstained.