Israel Disappointed in U.S. over Censure Resolution at Security Council

A reaction of “deep disappointment” was felt today in Government circles here over the draft resolution presented jointly by the United States and Britain at the United Nations Security Council censuring Israel for its March 17 reprisal raid against Syrian gunposts on the eastern shore of Lake Tiberias. The reprisal was provoked by Syrian gunners harassing Israeli fishing boats and police launches on the lake from those gunposts.

As the Security Council prepared to vote on the resolution tomorrow, the Israel Cabinet discussed today the position to be taken by the Israeli delegation at the United Nations on the vote. Instructions were cabled to the delegation after the Cabinet meeting. It was assumed that the delegation was instructed, among other things, to emphasize Israel’s determination to oppose any encroachment on Israel’s sovereignty over Lake Tiberias, which is entirely within Israeli territory. (See report on Cabinet reaction on page 2).

While it was noted here that the draft resolution represented a softening of the United States position–presumably at the insistence of France against any outright censure of Israel–it was stressed that the draft does not contain an adequate condemnation of Syrian acts of aggression. It was feared that this might serve to encourage future Syrian hostilities.

Exception also was taken to the presentation by Major General Carl C. von Horn, chief of the UN Truce Supervision Organization, and to some of his proposals which have been incorporated in the draft resolution. One of these calls for Israel agreement to a UNTSO patrol boat on Lake Tiberias.