THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST20

Decisions
At its 1401st meeting, on 21 March 1968, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Jordan, Israel, the United Arab Republic, Iraq and Morocco to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the item entitled :
"The situation in the Middle East : "(a) Letter dated 21 March 1968 from the Perma-
nent Representative of Jordan addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/8484) ;21 " ( lJ) Letter dated 21 March 1968 from the Pennanent Representative of Israel addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/8486)."21
At its 1402nd meeting, on 21 March 1968, the Council decided to invite the representative of Syria to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the questim;.
At its 1406th meeting, on 23 March 1968, the Council decided to invite the representative of Saudi Arabia to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the question.

Recalling further resolution 237 ( 1%7) which called upon the Government of Israel to ensure the safety, welfare and security of the inhabitants of the areas where military operations have taken place,
1. Deplores the loss of life and heavy damage to property;
2. Condetrtns the military action launched by Israel in flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the cease-fire resolutions;
3. Deplores all violent incidents in violation of the cease-fire and declares that such actions of military reprisal and other grave violations of the cease-fire cannot be tolerated and that the Security Council would have to consider further and more effective steps as envisaged in the Charter to ensure against repetition of such acts ;
4. Cails upon Israel to desist from acts or activities in contravention of resolution 237 (1967);
5. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the situation under review and to report to the Security Council as appropriate.
Adopted unanimously at the 1407th meeting.
Decisions

Resolution 248 ( 1968)
o( 24 March 1968
The Security Council,
Having heard the statements of the representatives of Jordan and Israel,
Having noted the contents of the letters of the Permanent Representatives of Jordan and Israel in documents S/8470,22 S/8475,22 S/8478,22 S/8483,22 S/848422 and S/8486,22
Having noted further the supplementary information provided by the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization as contained in documents S/7930/Add.64 and Add.65,22
Recalling resolution 236 ( 1967) by which the Security Council condemned any and all violations of the cease-fire,
Observing that the military action by the armed forces of Israel on the territory of Jordan was of a large-scale and carefully planned nature,
Considering that all violent incidents and other violations of the cease-fire should be prevented and not overlooking past incidents of this nature,

At its 1409th meeting, on 30 March 1%8, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Jordan and Israel to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the item entitled :
"The situation in the Middle East: "(a) Letter dated 29 March 1968 from the Perma-
nent Representative oi Jordan addressed to the President of the Security Council ( S/8516) ;23 " (b) Letter dated 29 March 1968 from the Permanent Representative of Israel addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/8517)."23
At its 1410th meeting, on 1 April 1968, the Council decided to invite the representative of Syria to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the question.
At its 14llth meeting, on 2 Apnl 1%8, the Council decided to invite the representatives of the Unit2d Arab Republic and Iraq to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the question.

20 Resolutions or decisions on this question were also adopted in 1967.
21 See Official Records of the Security Cquncil, Twenty-third
Year, Supplement for January, February ancj March 1968. 2:: Ibid.

At its 1412th meeting, on 4 April 1968, tbe Council decided to invite the representative of Saudi Arabia to
28Jbid.

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