The Egyptian Government today complained to the United Nations that an armed Israel force, supported by aircraft, allegedly crossed into Egyptian territory and killed three persons.
A protest against Israel was also lodged yesterday by Lebanon in connection with the incident last Monday when an Israel fighter plane chased a Lebanese airliner which appeared over Israel territory. Both Egypt and Lebanon called for action by the Security Council against Israel.
United Nations officials indicated that the protests may be circulated among member states of the U.N. As to the request by Lebanon to have its charge against Israel placed before the Security Council, the same official said that it was up to a member of the Council to place it officially on the agenda.
The Egyptian complaint, which came in the form of a letter to the U.N. Secretary-General from the Egyptian Foreign Minister, alleged that on June 30 an armed Israel force “of about 60 man” crossed the armistice line east of Rafah and entered Egyptian territory to a depth of 700 meters. The Egyptian communication said that the Israelis “attacked the local civilian population” and burned their crops. “This act of aggression was supported by machinegun fire from at least one Israel aircraft,” the communication said.
Although United Nations officials in Palestine had previously informed the U.N. Secretariat that the mixed armistice commission was handling this incident, the Egyptian Foreign Minister insisted that the facts be made known before the members of the U.N. Security Council. Similarly the Lebanese Foreign Minister demanded in his cable that the Security Council undertake an investigation of the airplane incident.
Both Egypt and Lebanon warned the Security Council in their communications that “repeated violations” of the armistice lines by Israel armed forces are threatening peace in Palestine and “might have serious consequences.” The Lebanese protest charged that Israel has “repeatedly committed violations of the armistice provisions against all neighboring Arab states.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
