HC Deb 15 December 1958 vol 597 cc762-3
34. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the situation on the Israel-Syrian borders; and to what extent United Nations observers are stationed along this border.

36. Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position on the Israel-Syrian borders; and what steps are being taken by the United Nations to prevent future attacks by Syria on persons and property in Israel.

Commander Noble

In a letter to the President of the Security Council on 4th December, the Government of Israel asked for an urgent meeting of the Council to consider an alleged act of aggression in which a number of Israel villages were bombarded on 3rd December by Syrian artillery. The Security Council began its consideration of this complaint on 8th December and will be continuing it later today. I would therefore prefer not to comment at this stage.

Since August, 1957, a limited number of permanent United Nations observer posts have been established on both sides of the sector of the frontier in question. There is one such post on either side of the frontier in the area where the shelling on 3rd December took place, and one United Nations observer is reported to have been slightly wounded.

Mr. Janner

In view of the serious implications of these aggressive acts on the part of the Syrians in regard to peace in the Middle East, will the Minister do everything possible to see that they are stopped?

Commander Noble

As the Security Council is probably meeting today, I do not think I should make any further statement.