§ 50. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to make a statement about the investigation into the murder of Mrs. Doran, wife of the British Air Attaché in Israel; and to what extent it has disclosed transgression of the armistice agreement.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydSince my reply to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock on 24th November, I have learnt that the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission will not meet to discuss the report by the United Nations observers.
Evidence that Mrs. Doran's killers came from Syrian territory is contained in the United Nations observers' report, a copy of which is being placed in the Library of the House. The Syrian authorities did not allow the United Nations observers to pursue their investigations on the Syrian side of the River Jordan until three days after Mrs. Doran's body was found. I am waiting to receive from H.M. Ambassador in Tel Aviv certain answers to supplementary inquiries made of the Israel authorities before deciding what further action should be taken.
The Israel Government have complained to the United Nations Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission that the Syrian military post on the east bank of the River Jordan, opposite the point to which footprints leading from Mrs. Doran's body were found, had been illegally established inside the demilitarised zone. I am informed that the Chairman has now called on the Syrian authorities to remove the infringement.