Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-13
Israel Reserves
Right Of Action,
Premier Says

JERUSALEM, Mar. Is (P.--
Prime Minister David Ben
Gurion told the Israeli Parlia-
ment today that his government
Preserves its freedom of action"
If the Egyptians return to the
GAIA Strip.
1t was Mr.. Ben-Gurion's first
comment since Egypt announced
1t was resuming control of the
disputed Mediterranean coastal
area. The tough old Israeli lead
err who ordered Israel's blitz in
vasion Of Egypt last October
warned:
IF the time comes when action
is appropriate and necessary,
the Israel government will not,
of course. give prior notice of
its actions"
The GAIA Strip, Mr.. Ben-Gu-
frion told the Knesset tparlia-
menD. never belonged to the
Egyptians and was "of use to
them only for the purpose of
attacks or threats against Israel"
Invasion Referred To
"A dispatch to the New York
Post from Jerusalem quoted
Mr.. Ben-Gurion as saying:
t"What happened once can
happen again F. We shall see
what develops"
(The Post reported Mr.. Ben
Gurion had the air of a man
who knew that in the long run
Irsael might be obliged to rely
on its own defense forces
rather than on the United
Nations.)
In Cairo. United Nations I'm
dersecretary Ralph Bunche said
today mo attempt has been made
to postpone arrival Of the Egyp-
Itian administration" in the GAIA
Strip.
/ Mr.. Bunche. who worked out
the l949 Arab Israeli armistice,
made the statement to newsmen
after he had a 90-minute con-
ference with Egyptian President
NaSser.
Egypt Has UNEF Backing
| He said the Egyptian admin
listration will have the full CO.
operation of UNEF," the U. N.
force which moved into the GAIA
area when Israeli troops gave up
the area last week.
"UNEF has no administration
m GAIA and no intention to in
lternatlonaliZe the GAIA Strip
Mr.. Bunche added.
/ Egypt announced Monday that
she had appointed a general as
Governor of the area-to the
surprise of Israeli, United States
and u. N. officials. who had as
sumed UNEF would administer
the disputed area exclusively for
the time being.
/ Mr.. Bunche and U. N. Secre-
tary General Dag Hammarskiold
have said that there was NO
Question that Egypt, under the
letter Of the l949 armistice, has
the right to administer the area
The Cairo press redoubled its
attacks on the U. N. Emergency
Force IN GAIA. AL Shaab printed
a caricature of UNEF as an
armed wolf. A Palestinian Arab
refugee in GAIA was killed by
U N. rifle fire during a pro-
Egyptian demonstration Sunday.
Deputy Asks Assurance
/ Mr.. Ben-Gurion spoke in re-
ply to a deputy who asked as
surance the Israeli government
would take "all political and Sc
curity steps" 10 prevent the re-
turn of an Egyptian regime to
the GAIA Strip.
For the present. the Premier
said. Israel is trying to head of
an Egyptian return to GAIA by
political measures. He did
not specify these. but Ambassa-
dor Abba Eban hurried back TO
Washington from a Florida va
cation to confer with United
States officials.
Before his statement Mr.. Ben
Gurion won what we're virtually
two votes Of confidence. The
KneSset defeated two opposition
proposals for a debate 5l-24 and
1914.
Meanwhile dip lom a is con-
ferred at furious pace in Cairo,
Washington and at U. N. head
quarters.
Tension was eased somewhat
by a statement from an Egyptian
official that the Cairo govern
ment has no plans for the pres
ent to send troops into GAIA to
back up a civil administration
This apparently meant UNEF