Israel’s retaliatory raid on Jordan last night was explained today to UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold by Ambassador Abba Eban, chief of the Israel delegation here, following a letter sent by Mr. Hammarskjold earlier this morning to the president of the Security Council calling the Council’s attention to the “latest development” on the Israel-Jordan frontier.
“The most recent events at the Jordan-Israel demarcation line have brought to a culmination a development which has been progressing for a few months,” the Secretary General said in his letter. “I have, so far, not found that I should ask the Security Council to take the situation up for active consideration. However, if the governments concerned, in cooperation with the Truce Supervision Organization, do not bring the situation rapidly under control, I submit that the Security Council should take the matter up in order to reaffirm its policy, as established in previous resolutions, and, were the Council to find the continued deterioration to constitute a threat to peace, to decide on what further measures may be indicated.”
Mr. Eban told Mr. Hammarskjold that the action undertaken last night by Israeli forces against some Jordan posts was an “inevitable consequence in the chain of murders and aggressions committed by Jordanian forces” against citizens of Israel, within Israel territory, and in repudiation of Jordan’s solemn undertakings to the Secretary General to observe a permanent and unconditional cease-fire. Since these undertakings were given, 36 Israelis were killed and 51 wounded in Jordan attacks, he pointed out.
“No government could fail to act in defense of its citizens in face of continuing murders organized from across its borders,” Mr. Eban said. “Israel’s determination to assure and maintain peace along these borders remains unchanged. Israel deeply deplores the loss of lives on either side. But the responsibility is Jordan’s Israel has at no time initiated hostilities nor will she do so in the future.
“The Government of Israel reiterates its pledges given to the Secretary-General scrupulously to maintain a cease-fire on the basis of reciprocity. It requests the Secretary-General and the Chief of Staff to take the necessary steps to ensure like observance by Jordan of its cease-fire undertakings and the institution of such policies as will secure its maintenance.”
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