Israel today took the offensive again in its diplomatic campaign against Egypt, following Israel’s censure last week by the Security Council as a result of a Syrian complaint.
Timing its action with the visit of United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold, who arrived in Jerusalem today during his visit to the Middle East capitals, Israel complained to the Security Council that Egypt has misrepresented the situation in the Nitzana-E1 Auja area where the UN offered a plan for easing tensions last November. That plan has since been accepted by Israel, but practically rejected by Egypt.
In the letter to the Council today, Israel recapitulated the disputes it has been having with Egypt over the demilitarized zone in the Nitzana-El Auja area since 1950. According to the Israeli letter, signed by Mordecai R. Kidron, deputy chief of the delegation, Egypt has communicated to the Council “a number of inaccuracies.”
The letter shows that for more than five years Egypt has been harassing Israel in the Nitzana-El Auja area by sending in armed Bedouin infiltrators to attack Israeli settlements there, to fight against permissible Israeli police forces, and to commit sabotage. The letter does not request any particular action by the Council at this time, but merely asks the Council president to circulate the contents to the members of the Council.
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