Israel’s chief delegate at the United Nations, Ambassador Abba Eban, is keeping in touch with the Israel Government in Jerusalem on the timing of a protest to the United Nations on yesterday’s massacre of 11 Israeli men, women and children in a bus in the Negev by a gang of heavily armed Jordanians, it was learned in Israel circles here today.
In view of this incident and the Jordanian refusal to attend a UN-called Israel-Jordan meeting on the armistice agreement and its failings, it is expected here that Israel will call for a full-scale debate in the Security Council. Meanwhile, it is expected that the Security Council will not resume consideration of Israel’s complaint against the Egyptian blockade of the Suez Canal until at least next Tuesday.
Ambassador Eban today issued a statement here terming “mendacious” a statement by Syrian Ambassador Farid Zeineddine yesterday that Israel boats on Lake Tiberias had heavily attacked Syrian positions on the northeastern bank of the lake. The Israeli diplomat pointed out that:
First, Syria was responsible for opening the firing on March 11. This was confirmed by the Mixed Armistice Commission in its decision of March 15.
Second, Lake Tiberias is entirely within Israel territory and any Syrian interference with Israeli activities on the lake is illegitimate. This fact, too, was confirmed by decision of the Mixed Armistice Commission.
Third, Syrian provocation on Lake Tiberias has been prolonged and constant. This is clear from the Mixed Armistice Commission’s decision of March 15. “Thus the UN Armistice Commission has refuted every single element in the argument submitted by the Syrian ambassador yesterday.”
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.
