ISRAEL: PRIME MINISTER ESHKOL CALLS FOR TROOPS REDUCTIONS ON EGYPT-ISRAEL BORDER (HEBREW SOF)

Record ID: 399512

  • Title: ISRAEL: PRIME MINISTER ESHKOL CALLS FOR TROOPS REDUCTIONS ON EGYPT-ISRAEL BORDER (HEBREW SOF)
  • Date: 23rd May 1967
  • Summary: KNESSET (PARLIAMENT) IN JERUSALEM: INTERIOR, ESHKOL SPEAKING (HEBREW SOF): FORMER PRIME MINISTER BEN GURION SPEAKING (HEBREW SOF): KNESSET EMBERS LISTENING. Initials PW/V/CCT/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 7th June 1967 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM -- ISRAEL
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVA23W2A2STO2OWBQWX16ZO2S7GH
  • Story Text: THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, MR LEVI ESHKOL, YESTERDAY (MONDAY) CALLED FOR A MUTUAL REDUCTION OF TROOP CONCENTRATIONS ON THE EGYPT-ISRAEL BORDER. IN A SPEECH TO THE CROWDED KNESSET (PARLIAMENT) HE SAID THAT THE EGYPTIAN BUILD-UP OF FORCES IN THE SINAI PENINSULA WITHIN THE PAST FEW DAYS HAD INCREASED THE NUMBER OF MEN STATIONED THERE FROM 35,000 TO 80,000.

    MR ESHKOL TOLD THE ISRAELI PARLIAMENT THAT THE PRESENT TENSION ON ISRAEL'S BORDERS LAY PRIMARILY IN A SERIES OF SYRIAN-INSPIRED INFILTRATIONS AND ASSAULTS ON ISRAEL. HE ALSO SAID THAT LONG BEFORE EGYPT'S TROOP BUILD-UP BEGAN, THE UNITED NATIONS HAD INFORMED EGYPT THAT REPORTS OF ISRAEL'S FORCES BEING POISED FOR ATTACK WERE UNFOUNDED.

    MR ESHKOL TOLD THE KNESSET: "I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE ARAB COUNTRIES FROM THIS ROSTRUM, PARTICULARLY TO EGYPT AND SYRIA, THAT WE HARBOUR NO AGGRESSIVE DESIGN. WE HAVE NO POSSIBLE INTEREST IN VIOLATING EITHER THEIR SECURITY, THEIR TERRITORY OR THEIR LEGITIMATE RIGHTS."
    HE THEN CALLED FOR A CONCERTED INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO OUTLAW SABOTAGE AND TERRORISM AGAINST ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE UNITED NATIONS, AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM ISRAEL'S BORDERS.

    FORMER ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER MR DAVID BEN GURION ALSO SPOKE DURING THE DEBATE AND LATER, MR ESHKOL HELD AN ALL-PARTY MEETING TO OUTLINE THE LATEST SITUATION.

    MEANWHILE TODAY, EGYPT HAS BACKED UP HER THREAT TO CLOSE THE VITAL GULF OF AQABA TO ISRAELI SHIPPING AND EGYPTIAN WARSHIPS HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL HEADING FOR THE RED SEA, APPARENTLY TO ENFORCE THE BLOCKADE.

    UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL U THANT ARRIVED IN CAIRO TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH EGYPTIAN LEADERS, WHILE AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK MEMBERS WERE CALLING FOR A MEETING OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL.

    BUT THE MIDDLE EAST SITUATION REMAINS EXTREMELY TENSE. COLONEL NASSER CHALLENGED ISRAEL TO TRY TO BREAK THE AQABA BLOCKADE -- AND ISRAEL HAS DESCRIBED ANY ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE WITH ISRAELI SHIPPING AS "AN ACT OF WAR".
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