Middle East situation – Letter from Israel

LETTER DATED 4 DECEMBER 1958 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ISRAEL ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

I have the honour, on instructions from the Government of Israel to request you as President of the Security Council to convene an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider a grave act of aggression committed on 3 December 1958 by the armed forces of the United Arab Republic against Israel territory in the Huleh area in northeast Galilee.

At noon on 3 December 1958 the Syrian army post at Darbashiya opened fire on five Israeli shepherds tending their flock on the grazing grounds south of the village of Gonen, near a United Nations Observation Post.  One of the shepherds was killed.  A police patrol which came to their rescue was also subjected to heavy fire from the Syrian military position.

The fire continued till 1600 hours when a heavy artillery barrage was opened by the Syrian (U.A.R.) forces on all Israeli villages in the border area from Shamir in the north to Gadot in the south over a distance of about 15 kms.  Among the Israel villages bombarded were Hulata, Gonen, Shamir, Noterah, Dardara, Gadot and Maaleh Habashan.  Three persons were injured as a result of these attacks and severe damage was caused to property.

A cease-fire arranged by the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization for 1700 hours was not honoured by the Syrian forces and their fire ceased only some time later.

Yesterday’s act of aggression is but the latest and most serious in a number of attacks recently perpetrated by the Syrian forces against Israel territory which included, two weeks ago, the murder in cold blood by Syrians of Mrs. Joyce Mary Doran, the wife of the British Air Attaché in Israel.

These attacks have now developed a character which threatens peace and security and constitute a serious breach of the United Nations Charter and the Israel-Syrian General Armistice Agreement.  The Government of Israel accordingly turns to the Security  council to bring about an immediate end to these aggressions.

Please accept, etc.

(Signed) ABBA EBAN

Permanent Representative of

Israel to the United Nations