ISRAELI P.M.’s STAND

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31378, 25 May 1967, Page 13

ISRAELI P.M.’s STAND

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copvriphtl JERUSALEM, May 24. The Prime Minister, Mr Levi Eshkol, said last night than any interference with shipping in the vital Gulf of Aqaba would amount to an act of aggression against Israel.

In a statement to Parliament, Mr Eshkol said that Israel will ding to its right of free passage through the gulf as expressed in its 1957 announcement before the United Nations General Assembly. The Prime Minister’s speech was in response to a statement yesterday by the Egyptian President, Colonel Nasser, threatening interference with Israeli shipping through the gulf. Mr Eshkol called upon the major maritime powers to “act without delay for the maintenance of the right to free passage for our southernmost port.” The Gulf of Aqaba is dominated at its entrance to the Red Sea by Egyptian military

positions which could bar vessels plying to Israel’s key port of Eilat. “Gross Violation” Mr Eshkol said any interference with shipping in the gulf will be “a gross violation of international law, a blow at the sovereign rights of other nations and an act of aggression against Israel.” The Prime Minister recalled that other Governments . have, since the gulf was reopened for Israel in 1957, pubj licly stated their determinaf tion to insist on free passage. In the last few days, Israel i has been in close touch with these governments, Mr Eshkol . said. “After these exchanges, I can say that international ’ support for these rights is , serious and widespread,” he [ said. Israel’s 1957 announcement , to the United Nations about

shipping in the Gulf of Aqaba was made by its then Foreign Minister, Mrs Golda Meir. She said: “Interference by armed force with Israeli ships exercising free and innocent passage in the Gulf of Aqaba and through the Straits of Tiran will be regarded by Israel as an attack entitling her to exercise her inherent right of self-defence under Article 51 of the charter and to take all such measures as are necessary to ensure the free and innocent passage of her ships in thn gulf and the straits.”