{"id":203454,"date":"1966-12-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T18:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=203454"},"modified":"2019-03-12T18:34:38","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T18:34:38","slug":"auto-insert-203454","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-203454\/","title":{"rendered":"Yearbook of the United Nations 1966 (excerpts)"},"content":{"rendered":"
YEARBOOK<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n OF THE<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n UNITED<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n NATIONS<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 1966<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n \n<\/p><\/div>\n QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE MIDDLE EAST<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n THE PALESTINE QUESTION<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n The Palestine question was the subject of three separate debates in the Security Council during 1966. Discussions, and various communications addressed to the Security Council during the year, concerned either relations between Jordan and Israel or between Syria and Israel.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n COMPLAINTS BY ISRAEL AND SYRIA<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 11 May, Syria complained that Israel authorities had, since 29 April 1966, been issuing warlike statements threatening Syria and neighbouring Arab States. One such statement on 29 April by the Prime Minister of Israel, it was maintained, had been followed at midnight, 29-30 April, by a well-planned and executed attack on Jordan by regular Israel forces.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In a reply on 16 May, Israel charged that Syria was the source, training ground, principal supplier and main support of a terrorist organization variously known as El-Fatah ("conquest") and El-Asefa ("storm"). The latest incidents which it attributed to this organization had taken place in the fields of the village of Al-Magor in the vicinity of the Sea of Galilee at about 1,000 metres from the Syrian boundary, where two young farmers had lost their lives.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 24 May, Syria denied as completely groundless and deliberately misleading the charge that Syria was the source and training ground of the organization known as El-Fatah and El-Asefa. It further stated that the reference in the Israel complaint to an alleged condemnation of Syria by the Security Council was false and therefore misleading. No condemnation had ever been adopted by the Security Council against Syria.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Replying on 29 May to the Syrian letter of 24 May, Israel observed that the Syrian letter, while generally denying responsibility for the El-Fatah terrorist organization, did not try to refute the specific facts indicating such responsibility as set out in the Israel letter of 16 May. Israel, it said, had been faced for years with the constant succession of armed attacks, sabotage, terror and murder perpetrated by regular and irregular forces under the direct control of Syrian governments and openly encouraged and incited by them. The Syrian letter did not produce a single shred of contemporary evidence for attributing aggressive intent to Israel.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 14 July 1966, Israel complained that there had been a sudden recrudescence of sabotage and road-mining attacks in Israel border areas, carried out from Syria, including four attacks carried out within the last two days. After those outrages, planes of the Israel Air Force had, on 14 July, been ordered to carry out a brief attack to the south-east of Al-Magor on Syrian tractors and mechanical equipment, in order to impress upon the Syrian authorities the gravity with which Israel viewed continual Syrian violence against its population and territory.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 18 July, Syria drew the attention of the President of the Security Council to a new act of aggression committed by Israel authorities against Syrian territory, population and property when, on the afternoon of 14 July 1966, a number of Israel jet fighters and bombers violated Syrian air space, shelled seven Syrian areas situated on the site of the Jordan River development scheme, hit mechanical and engineering equipment, destroyed bulldozers with napalm bombs, wounded nine civilians and killed one woman. The Israel claims that Syria was responsible for four incidents which allegedly took place on 13 and 14 July had been categorically denied by Syrian military spokesmen, and refuted before the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission (ISMAC). Syria emphasized that its Government could not be held responsible for the activities of El-Fatah and El-Asefa, nor for the rise of Palestinian Arab organizations striving to liberate their conquered and occupied territory. The machinery competent to carry out an investigation was obviously ISMAC, whose meetings the Israel authorities boycotted for fear of exposure of their fallacious arguments.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 21 July, Syria requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider what was described as the grave situation arising from the act of aggression committed by Israel against Syrian territory on the afternoon of 14 July 1966, an act which, it was maintained, seriously threatened peace and security in the area.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 22 July, Israel requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider its complaint regarding what it described as repeated acts of aggression committed by Syrian armed forces and by armed saboteur groups operating from Syrian territory against citizens and territory of Israel, and declarations by official spokesmen of the Syrian Government containing threats against the people, territorial integrity and political independence of Israel, openly inciting to war against Israel in violation of the United Nations Charter and the Israel-Syrian General Armistice Agreement.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The complaints were considered by the Council at eight meetings between 25 July and 3 August. The representatives of Israel, Syria and Iraq, who were not members of the Council, were invited to participate in the discussion without the right to vote.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Two separate reports from the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) were transmitted by the Secretary-General on 26 and 27 July. On 27 July, the Secretary-General also circulated a note on the efforts of UNTSO to relieve tension along the line between Israel and Syria. In the opinion of the Chief of Staff, the settlement of the problems of land cultivation would greatly help in relaxing the tension between the two countries.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 29 July, Jordan and Mali submitted a draft resolution whereby the Council, among other things, would: (1) condemn Israel's wanton attack of 14 July 1966, as a flagrant violation of the cease-fire provisions of the Council's resolution of 15 July 1948, 1<\/u>\/ of the terms of the General Armistice Agreement between Israel and Syria, and of Israel's obligations under the Charter; (2) deplore the losses, human and otherwise, caused by the Israel air attack for which Israel must assume full responsibility; (3) reaffirm its resolutions of 19 January 1956 2<\/u>\/ and 9 April 1962, 3<\/u>\/ and deplore the resumption by Israel of aggressive acts unequivocally condemned by those resolutions; (4) remind Israel that the Council had already condemned military action in breach of the General Armistice Agreement, and had called upon Israel to take effective measures to prevent such action; (5) reiterate its call to Israel to comply with its obligations under the Charter, in default of which the Council would have to consider what further measures should be invoked; and (6) call upon the Governments of Israel and Syria to co-operate with the UNTSO Chief of Staff in carrying out his responsibilities under the General Armistice Agreement and the pertinent resolutions of the Security Council, and urge that all necessary steps be taken promptly for reactivating the Mixed Armistice Commission and making full use of the Mixed Armistice machinery.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The draft resolution, Jordan said, did not depart from similar Council action in previous cases and was based on past Council resolutions concerning Israel's violation of the Armistice Agreement.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Commenting on Israel charges that Syria had been responsible for a number of incidents on 13 and 14 July which provoked the air strike, Syria said that complaints by either side were supposed to be presented to the Mixed Armistice Commission, on the authority of which the Council, in turn, made its decision. Israel, however, had boycotted the Commission since 1951 because its decisions were not to Israel's liking; it decided on the truth of its own allegations, and decided its own course of action. Its policy of retaliation completely disregarded the General Armistice Agreement between Israel and Syria, which forbade military or para-military forces of either party to commit warlike or hostile acts against the other.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The air strike, Syria added, was but one link in a chain of Israel attacks on neighbouring Arab countries, all in less than a year. The decisions of the Mixed Armistice Commission had made it clear that the Government of Israel had been convicted of planning and organizing military operations against neighbouring Arab States. But no Arab Government had been found guilty by the Commission of organizing a raid on Israel. The frequency of Israel's acts of aggression, their timing and their tactics all pointed to a fundamental Israel policy which was an inherent condition of its existence and stemmed from Zionist ideology; that ideology was based on a policy of constant aggression against neighbouring Arab States and of obstructing the development of the Arab countries.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In reply, Israel said that only by taking to the air could it overcome its marked topographical disadvantage and keep casualties to a minimum. The Government of Israel had no wish to engage in armed clashes or military action on its borders. The action on 14 July had been taken reluctantly, after Israel had become convinced that all its efforts through the United Nations and diplomatic channels had failed to deter Syrian aggression. The border could not be kept quiet unless the Syrian Government accepted the fact that it was in Syria's interest as well as Israel's interest to keep it so. There could be no trouble if there were an unconditional and effective cease-fire and a complete halt to armed raiding in Israel territory. Israel was prepared to send representatives to meet with Syrian representatives at any time or place convenient to Syria.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Citing a number of the key provisions of the General Armistice Agreement, Israel's spokesman said that Syria's policy and behaviour amounted to a repudiation of these in letter and in spirit. Syrian leaders had openly declared that Israel must be destroyed. If the Council saw fit to adopt any resolution at all, Israel said, it was clearly imperative that it condemn Syria's acts of aggression and threats of war and that it demand of the Syrian Government that it halt such activities forthwith. The most important thing was to maintain a complete cease-fire, to relax tension and to work out local arrangements by discussion and agreement. Syria had prevented the Mixed Armistice Commission from functioning fully by insisting on placing on its agenda matters concerning the Demilitarized Zone despite the fact that, under the General Armistice Agreement, it was for the United Nations Chairman to deal with such matters.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Several members of the Council, including Argentina, China, France, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, while deploring the Israel air attack of reprisal on 14 July against Syria, supported the continuing efforts of the UNTSO Chief of Staff, urged the reactivation and full utilization of the Mixed Armistice machinery in the area and called for a settlement of the problem of land cultivation in the Demilitarized Zone.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Other members of the Council–among them Bulgaria, Jordan, Mali, Nigeria and the USSR–condemned the Israel air action and called upon Israel to comply with its obligations and responsibilities under the Charter and the General Armistice Agreement. A similar statement was made by Iraq in support of the Syrian complaint.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Uganda and Uruguay stressed that they did not condone any reprisal action by any party and maintained that the Council in its consideration of the Syrian complaint must also get to the root-cause of the problem and take into account the broad context of the Palestine question.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 3 August, the draft resolution was put to the vote. There were 6 votes in favour, 0 against, with 9 abstentions. The draft resolution was not adopted, having failed to obtain the required majority of votes.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Between 16 August and 10 October 1966, a number of communications addressed to the President of the Security Council by Israel and Syria drew attention to various incidents which they alleged had occurred along the border between the two countries.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 12 October, Israel requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider its complaints against Syria relating to acts of aggression committed by armed groups operating from Syrian Territory and open threats of war by Syria against the territorial integrity and political independence of Israel, in violation of the United Nations Charter and the Israel-Syrian General Armistice Agreement.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 13 October, Syria replied that Israel's allegations against Syria were false and without any foundation. They were being used as a pretext to embark upon fresh acts of aggression against Syria. Israel alone would be responsible for any expansion of the conflict and for jeopardizing the peace of the Middle East.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Israel complaint was considered by the Security Council at 11 meetings between 14 October and 4 November. The representatives of Israel, Syria, the United Arab Republic and Saudi Arabia, who were not members of the Council, were invited to participate in the discussion without the right to vote.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Pursuant to its requests, the Security Council, during the debate, received four reports from the Secretary-General relating to: the incidents mentioned in the agenda adopted by the Council; the inspections of the Demilitarized Zone and defensive areas; the present inability of the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission (ISMAC) to function and the attitudes of the parties thereto; and the present status of the Demilitarized Zone set up by the General Armistice Agreement between Israel and Syria. These reports were based upon information supplied by the Chief of Staff of UNTSO.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 27 October, the United Kingdom and the United States submitted a draft resolution whereby the Council, among other things, would: (1) deplore the incidents which had been the subject of the debate, as well as the loss of human life and casualties caused by them; (2) remind the Government of Syria to fulfil its obligations by taking all measures to prevent the use of its territory as a base of operation for acts constituting a violation of the Armistice Agreement; (3) call for strict adherence to article III (3) of the Israel-Syrian General Armistice Agreement providing that no warlike act or act of hostility should be conducted from the territory of one of the parties against other parties; (4) call upon the Governments of Syria and Israel, in the light of their statements to the Council, to co-operate fully with the United Nations machinery, including the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission established under article VII of the General Armistice Agreement, for the effective implementation of that Agreement, in order to prevent incidents, and for the same purpose to facilitate the work of UNTSO personnel in their tasks of observation and investigation on both sides of the Armistice Demarcation Line; (5) express its intention to consider further as soon as possible in the interest of the promotion of lasting peace in the Middle East what steps could be taken on the broader question of Arab-Israeli relations; and (6) request the Secretary-General to follow closely the implementation of the present resolution and to take such measures as might be necessary to ensure that the Mixed Armistice Commission and UNTSO could effectively fulfil the functions assigned to them.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Introducing the draft resolution, the United States representative said that the proposal, with its emphasis on restraint, its concern for peace and its recognition of the broader unresolved question which forces of violence were currently exploiting, was an important and appropriate expression of what needed to be said promptly and decisively by the Council.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>During the debate, the Israeli representative, referring to a number of acts of violence which he said had been perpetrated in the northern part of Israel near the Syrian frontier, said they formed a single, organized system of violence. Israel reported the mobilization and training of saboteurs by Syrian authorities, who sent them into Israel for the purpose of destroying a sovereign State. Syria's obligations towards Israel under the Charter and the Armistice Agreement of 1949 could not possibly be reconciled with its contention that it was not responsible for preventing hostile acts against Israel from its territory. Israel, he said, had no claim against Syria's sovereignty or integrity, coveted no part of its territory, and had no interest in the character of its regime. Israel had formally expressed to the Chief of Staff of UNTSO its readiness to have him undertake an immediate and free inspection of the frontier area.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The spokesman for Israel went on to say that the Council must support Israel's right to territorial defence and condemn the hostile acts, illicit infiltrations and incitement to war by Syria. He proposed that both parties reaffirm their intention to abstain from the use or threat of force against each other's political independence and territorial integrity; and that they specifically pledge to the Council their determination to work actively to prevent any act of hostility from the territory of one part against the other.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In reply, the Syrian representative maintained that his Government had repeatedly rejected Israel's accusations that it was responsible for the activities of the Palestinian groups scattered throughout the area. There were more than 1,250,000 Arab refugees living in wretchedness across the Demarcation Line from Israel, within sight of the homes, farms and vineyards usurped from them. They knew that Israel disregarded their rights, so often reaffirmed by the United Nations resolutions. Why, then, should Syria be held responsible for the behaviour of more than one and a quarter million Arab refugees? Israel had said that its Government had no designs against the regime in Syria, but the Israeli Chief of Staff said otherwise. Saying it was ironic to hear Israel accuse Syria of aggressive intentions, the Syrian spokesman recalled the Israel air attack of 14 July. Israel's record in the United Nations, he said, proved that it was an aggressive colonial state, a guardian of imperialist monopolies created to destroy the economic and social progress of the area. Syria was determined not to upset the peace, but it was equally determined to stop the aggressor. Syria once more confirmed its readiness to co-operate fully with ISMAC, while Israel had boycotted the Commission, for it feared its condemnation. While Israel had maintained an aggressive policy of military attacks across the Armistice Demarcation Line, neither Syria nor any other Arab State had ever been condemned by the United Nations for military attacks on Israel or any other State.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Republic supported the Syrian position.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Argentina, China, France, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay welcomed the decision of Israel to bring the question to the Council, without resorting to retaliatory measures. They expressed the view that Syria could not disclaim any responsibility for actions originating in its territory. Among other things, they appealed to Syria and Israel to exercise the utmost caution and restraint; commended the Secretary-General on his prompt and objective reporting on the specific issues raised in the Council; and urged the parties concerned to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Israel–Syrian Armistice Agreement and to co-operate fully with the Armistice machinery in the area.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Bulgaria and the USSR described Israel's resort to the Council as hasty and artificial, and a tactical manoeuvre designed to divert attention from the true sources of tension in the Middle East and to camouflage the military preparations of extremist Israeli circles against Syria. Both blamed Israel for the inability of the Mixed Armistice Commission to function properly.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Jordan, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda expressed the belief that, to bring lasting peace to the Middle East, the Council should deal with the substance of the Palestine problem as a whole. Meanwhile, it was essential to insist upon the implementation of all provisions of the Armistice Agreement.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 28 October, the Council agreed to a suggestion made by Mali, on behalf of Nigeria and Uganda and endorsed by France, Japan and the USSR, to adjourn the debate on the question in order to hold broader consultations, with a view to avoiding the adoption of any resolution and seeking instead a consensus in the interest of making an effective contribution to the work of the Council.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 3 November, following the failure of the Council to reach a consensus on the question, another draft resolution was put forward–by Argentina, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria and Uganda. By this, the Council, among other things, would: (l) deplore the incidents which had been the subject of the debate, as well as the loss of human life and casualties caused by them; (2) invite the Government of Syria to strengthen its measures for preventing incidents that constituted a violation of the General Armistice Agreement; (3) invite the Government of Israel to co-operate fully with the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission; (4) call upon the Governments of Syria and Israel to facilitate the work of UNTSO personnel in their tasks of observation and investigation on both sides of the Armistice Demarcation Line; (5) urge the Governments of Syria and Israel to refrain from any action that might increase the tension in the area; and (6) request the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council as appropriate.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Introducing the six-power draft resolution, the representative of Uganda stated that it had evolved from a draft document previously intended as a consensus, but not acceptable to all members. It was felt by the co-sponsors to be absolutely necessary, in view of the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Middle East, that the Security Council take a stand that would have an impact in the area and improve the relationship between Israel and Syria. In view of the remote and immediate circumstances that preceded the incidents of which Israel complained, the sponsors also considered that the best results would be achieved not by condemning one or the other of the two parties, but by appealing to both parties in the area.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Expressing doubts about the six-power draft resolution, Bulgaria, Jordan, Mali, and the USSR indicated that if the sponsors of this proposal would agree to delete the second operative paragraph–whereby the Council would invite Syria to strengthen its measures for preventing incidents that constituted a violation of the General Armistice Agreement–or to accept a separate vote on it, they would then vote in favour of it. In reply, Uganda, speaking on behalf of the co-sponsors, said it would be difficult to do so because that would definitely upset the balance that was originally intended.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 4 November, the Council rejected the six–power resolution by 10 votes in favour, 4 against (Bulgaria, Jordan, Mali and USSR), and 1 abstention (China). It was not adopted because of the negative vote of a permanent member of the Council. The joint draft resolution submitted on 27 October by the United Kingdom and the United States was not pressed to the vote.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n COMPLAINTS BY ISRAEL AND JORDAN<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 1 May 1966, Jordan complained that on 29-30 April 1966, regular armed forces of Israel had crossed the Armistice Demarcation Line into the Hebron district, launched an unprovoked attack on the village of Rafat, three kilometres inside Jordan, and blown up 19 houses. Before withdrawing, Israeli soldiers had opened artillery fire on the police station, causing substantial damage and injuring two Jordanian soldiers. Simultaneously, another unit of Israel regular armed forces had penetrated four kilometres into Jordan territory, crossed the Jordan River and attacked the homes of unarmed farmers and the Sheikh Hussein police station. At least eight civilians were killed, several seriously injured and four houses blown up.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 2 May, Israel complained of recent occurrences in the Israel-Jordan border area attributed to the Arab terrorist and sabotage group known as El-Fatah which, beginning in January 1965, had organized armed incursions into Israel territory from neighbouring Arab States. Those occurrences–described in earlier Security Council documents–constituted the immediate background to the Israel action on the night of 29-30 April 1966.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Replying on 4 May, Jordan denied any knowledge of, or responsibility for, the acts complained of by Israel and pointed out that there was no conclusive evidence to establish that the alleged perpetrators had crossed from and to Jordan. Jordan requested that a complete report on the investigations of the last series of grave violations by Israel of the Armistice Agreement be circulated to all members of the Security Council.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 11 May, Israel charged a gross violation of the Israel-Jordan General Armistice Agreement by the forces of Jordan in an incident on 10 May along the border patrol track to the north of Beersheba. Heavy fire was opened suddenly and without warning on a work party, although due notification had been made to Jordan through the proper United Nations channel. The Israeli casualties were two killed and three wounded.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 12 May, Israel further informed the Council that the United Nations investigation had been carried out at the scene of the incident, while at the same time work on the border patrol track had been resumed in the presence of United Nations military observers, and completed without further incident or Jordanian interference.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 13 May, Jordan reported that the number of farmers who had been killed in the incident of 29-30 April as a result of the unprovoked attacks by Israel had now risen to 11.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 18 May, Jordan said that on 10 May Israel forces had opened automatic fire on Jordanian farmers within Jordanian territory, who were working peacefully in their fields, forcing them to flee to their village of Beit Mersim. The Israel fire was then directed against the village itself. The military forces of Jordan had to return fire in self-defence.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 27 October, Israel informed the Council that on that evening a freight train travelling from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv had been blown up and partially derailed by explosive charges near the Jordan border close to the Israel village of Battir. On 12 November, Israel charged that during the night of 11 November an Israel army vehicle engaged upon a regular patrol was blown up by a land mine. Israel, viewing these raids with gravity, reaffirmed that it was the responsibility of the Government of Jordan to prevent incursions from its territory by armed saboteur and terrorist groups.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 14 November, Jordan said that on 13 November, Israel armed forces had crossed the Armistice Demarcation Line in brigade strength, supported by a squadron of Mirage jets, heavy artillery, a large number of personnel carriers and more than 20 tanks. The invading force sought to destroy Arab villages and hamlets south of Hebron, subjecting the villages of As Samu and Rafaat and the police post of Rajm Al-Madfaa' to bombardment from the air and shelling the police post and village of Tawawani with heavy artillery. Detachments of the Jordanian army and air force had engaged the invaders in battle and stopped their advance. By this surprise and dastardly attack against civilian population and property, Jordan said, Israel had added one more link in the long chain of acts of war against Arab people.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 15 November, Jordan requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider the act of aggression committed by the Israel armed forces against the citizens and territory of Jordan on 13 November.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Jordan complaint was considered by the Council at nine meetings held between 16 and 25 November. Israel, which was not a member of the Council, was invited to participate in the discussion without the right to vote.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>At the beginning of the Security Council's discussion, the Secretary-General, in a preliminary, oral statement, said that UNTSO had received a complaint from Jordan that, at 06.15 local time on 13 November, Israel armoured cars had opened fire from the Israel side of the Armistice Demarcation Line against a Jordanian police post at Rajm Al-Madfaa' in the southern Hebron area using artillery and heavy machine-guns. The Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission had immediately endeavoured to arrange for a cease-fire and undertake an investigation in Jordan. Subsequent information had been received from Jordan that Israel forces had withdrawn and firing had stopped.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 18 November, the Secretary-General, at the Council's request, presented a report from the UNTSO Chief of Staff to the effect that the apparent total number of casualties amounted to 3 civilians and 15 military personnel killed and 17 civilians and 37 military personnel wounded.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>During the Council's debate, the representative of Jordan reminded the Council that Israel had said repeatedly in the Council that it had no complaint against Jordan, which was not involved in any of the incidents in Israel-occupied territory. Jordan recalled that, despite Israel's denials, it had warned the Council at its last series of meetings that Israel was planning aggression. According to first reports, the losses of life and property were great. As a result, there were demonstrations in Jordan against this attack and the situation was becoming extremely tense. In view of the gravity of the crime, Jordan expected strong statements of condemnation from the permanent members of the Council, but felt that the United States had attempted to justify the attack and continued to treat the question of Palestine as a domestic issue; its policy had been no deterrent to the Zionist criminals. Condemnation was not enough in this case. Israel had been condemned by the Council before, but it was the first time that it had attacked peaceful villages and innocent people in this manner. Jordan expected the Council to act firmly, not only because of the seriousness of the crime, but also because it had already taken a stand on the steps it would take if Israel repeated its aggression.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Jordan urged the Council to adopt the following measures: first, condemn Israel for the wanton and outrageous attack of 13 November 1966 which was carried out by its regular military forces against the territory of Jordan and its people; second, express its grave concern at the failure of Israel to comply with its obligations; third, decide that that act was a flagrant violation of the Charter and of the Armistice Agreement; fourth, further decide that armed attack constituted aggression under the provisions of Article 39 of the Charter; and fifth, call upon Members of the United Nations to adopt the necessary measures for applying economic sanctions against Israel.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In reply, Israel stated that, contrary to the United Nations Charter and the Armistice Agreement, the four Arab Governments bordering Israel, having tried to crush it in 1948, did not accept its political independence and territorial integrity and called for its elimination as a State and the dispersal of its people by force of arms. There had been 71 raids in Israel since January 1965 across the borders from neighbouring Arab States. Recently, organized terrorism and sabotage across the Jordanian border from certain villages which served as bases of operation and staging posts, had become bolder and more frequent.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Israel considered that the account given in the report of 18 November from the Chief of Staff of UNTSO was based on hearsay–namely, statements made after the event to the United Nations Military Observers by Jordanian witnesses, which were for the most part exaggerated and inaccurate.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representative of Israel maintained that the fundamental cause of Arab-Israel tension in the Middle East lay in Arab belligerence and a military threat against Israel, in standing violation of the Charter and of the Armistice Agreements signed in 1949. In the last two years, Arab policies had spawned a pattern of organized terrorist and sabotage raids from the territory of neighbouring States into the territory of Israel, resulting in death, destruction and insecurity within its borders. Israel, he said, was in duty bound to ensure the defence and security of its population, its territory and its borders; it was a matter for profound regret that the Security Council had acted upon complaints concerning Israel's reactions, but had not been able, for 15 years, to adopt any resolution on Israel's complaints.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 24 November, Nigeria and Mali submitted a draft resolution whereby the Council, among other things, would: (1) deplore the loss of life and heavy damage to property resulting from the action of the Israel Government on 13 November 1966; (2) censure Israel for that large-scale military action in violation of the United Nations Charter and of the General Armistice Agreement between Israel and Jordan; (3) emphasize to Israel that actions of military reprisal could not be tolerated and that, if they were repeated, the Council would have to consider further and more effective steps as envisaged in the Charter to ensure against the repetition of such acts; and (4) request the Secretary-General to keep the situation under review and report to the Council as appropriate.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Introducing the draft resolution, Nigeria stated that the sponsors did not expect either of the parties to acclaim their resolution, but expected them to accept it, if adopted by the Council, as an expression of the Council's interest and genuine concern over the state of tension between Jordan and Israel. Peace should be restored and maintained in the area on the basis of peaceful co-existence.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Several members of the Council–among them, Argentina, China, France, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States–deplored and condemned the military action, planned and carried out by the Israel authorities against a country which was respectful of its international obligations; commended Jordan for having brought its complaint to the Council instead of resorting to the use of armed force; considered Israel's action as unjustified and out of proportion to the incidents which preceded it, and a flagrant violation of the Armistice Agreement; and called upon all Governments concerned strictly to adhere to the General Armistice Agreement.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Bulgaria and the USSR condemned the action as an open act of unprovoked military aggression perpetrated by Israel against the territory of a neighbouring Arab country. They called upon the Council to condemn Israel severely as an aggressor that had violated the Armistice Agreement, the numerous resolutions of the Security Council and the most fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. The Council, they urged, should take effective measures to ensure the cessation, once and for all, of aggressive actions on the part of extremist circles in Tel Aviv against Arab countries.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>New Zealand said that, while it understood the frustrations caused by continued incidents, including loss of life through terrorist activities across Israel's borders, and appreciated the nature of Israel's strategic quandary, it could not condone a calculated act of retaliation both different from and disproportionate to the series of terrorist acts which preceded it.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Uruguay considered the events condemned by Jordan as illegitimate acts of aggression and supported any measure which advocated a just peace and promoted tranquillity in the Middle East.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Uganda maintained that, whatever justification might be advanced, the Israel operation of 13 November 1966 was completely disproportionate to the cumulative total of the various acts of terrorism conducted against Israel. Uganda unreservedly and unequivocally condemned that unfortunate and deliberate action. In its view, it was important to focus on the real sources of these eruptions and to set up as a matter of urgency the necessary machinery to go to the root-cause of the problem.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Nigeria and Mali condemned the Israel action against Jordan and urged the Council to insist upon adherence to the provisions of the relevant Armistice Agreements and to consider measures to lessen tension in the area.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 25 November, the Security Council adopted the proposal submitted by Nigeria and Mali by 14 votes in favour, 0 against, with 1 abstention, as resolution 228 (1966). (For text, see DOCUMENTARY REFERENCES below.)<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n SUBSEQUENT COMMUNICATIONS<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 29 November, the Secretary-General issued a note concerning references which had been made by a number of the members of the Security Council, during its recent debates, to the questions of how UNTSO might be made a more effective instrument for avoiding armed conflict in the area and how its reports on incidents might be improved. The Secretary-General said it would be recognized that, because of the nature of the operation, there was a fundamental limitation on the scope and effectiveness of UNTSO's activities. It was an observation operation whose principal function was to help maintain peace by servicing the armistice machinery established by the parties themselves. As an observation mission, UNTSO had no authority to give orders, to reach judgements, or forcibly to prevent actions. It operated on the territories of sovereign, independent States only with their explicit permission.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Despite its inherent limitations, the Secretary-General said, it was possible for UNTSO's effectiveness as an instrument for safeguarding the peace to be strengthened without changing its existing mandate or function. The first requirement, of course, was the full co-operation of the parties to the General Armistice Agreement with UNTSO in the performance of its functions and full observance by the parties of the obligations they had freely and solemnly accepted in those Agreements. The Secretary-General suggested several measures, including full freedom of movement for UNTSO Observers in the area of incidents; easy access to responsible authorities on either side at any time; agreement for deployment by UNTSO of mobile observation posts in sensitive sectors as speedily as possible, and the availability of a helicopter and the stationing of a speed boat on Lake Tiberias.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 30 December, Israel complained of fresh instances of armed raids for the purpose of laying land mines of the British Mark II type in regular use by the Syrian Armed Forces which were discovered on Israel territory on 9, 28 and 29 December.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n COMMUNICATIONS ON OTHER MATTERS<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n CIRCULATION OF DECISIONS OF<\/p><\/div>\n MIXED ARMISTICE COMMISSIONS<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 5 May 1966, Jordan, in a letter addressed to the Secretary-General, referred to a request by Morocco at a meeting of the Security Council on 3 September 1963 for a report from the Secretary-General on the observance of the Armistice Agreements by the parties along the demarcation lines and in all the demilitarized zones. In view of the repeated grave violations of the General Armistice Agreement by Israel, Jordan requested the circulation of this report as an official document of the Security Council.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In reply, the Secretary-General, on 6 May, stated that a draft report in the form of a summary covering the period from the beginning of the Armistice Agreement in 1949 through July 1964 had been prepared and submitted to him by the UNTSO Chief of Staff. However, he considered it undesirable to circulate it because, as a summary, it could not cover all complaints and therefore would be open to objections from both sides for the omission of particular cases.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Following a series of exchanges of communications between Jordan and the President of the Security Council, the President stated, on 30 June, that pending a determination by the Security Council as a whole on the question of having the Mixed Armistice Commission's decisions circulated as official documents of the Council or of reinstituting the previous informal procedure, it had been arranged, in consultation with the Secretary-General, that copies of the relevant texts should be made available on an informal basis to the representatives at the United Nations of the parties directly concerned, for their information, as soon as they were received in the Secretariat.<\/p><\/div>\n OPENING OF NEW ISRAEL<\/p><\/div>\n PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN JERUSALEM<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 8 September, Saudi Arabia transmitted to the President of the Security Council a statement issued by the Arab League urging resistance to the widely propagandized inauguration by the Israeli occupying authorities of their so-called Parliament in occupied Jerusalem.<\/p><\/div>\n REPORT OF CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On 30 September 1966, the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine submitted its twenty-fourth progress report, covering the period from 24 December 1965 to 30 September 1966. It will be recalled that the Commission had been requested by the General Assembly on 15 December 1965
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