UNITED NATIONS: A major clash between Israel and some Arab States, notably Syria and Jordan, is feared by United Nations observers. While the Security Council awaits the report of the UN Truce Supervisory Commission before taking any action on the Israeli complaint of Syrian “aggression”, Zionist elements here are circulating reports that Israeli forces might be “constrained” to take “retaliatory” measures against Syria.

What Israel might be aiming at, some Arab delegates think, is the kind of raid it carried out against Egypt in the fifties which finally led to the invasion of the Sinai Peninsula in 1956. Israelis are also said to be intriguing to overthrow the present Syrian regime which is taking a tough line against Israeli provocations.

UN observers are keenly watching the role of some big Western Powers in the latest Arab-Israeli drama. Since the present crisis involved Syria, a country which has been sharply critical of the US policy in Viet-Nam and elsewhere, the facade of American neutrality on the Arab-Israeli conflict seems to be coming down. The US delegation, led by Mr Arthur Goldberg, whose Zionist connection is sometimes a source of embarrassment even to the United States itself, is said to be ready to back any move to censure Syria for “raids” inside Israel.

However, the Soviet Union has come out strongly in favour of Syria and has threatened to veto any resolution condemning Damascus. Besides, the US has not been able to muster the nine requisite votes in the Security Council to uphold the Israeli charges about Syrian “aggression”. — Correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Ottawa,] Canada is getting a new immigration policy — the Government describes it as “expansionist and non-discriminatory” — that for the first time “places no emphasis on British immigrants”.

Under the new rules, skilled immigrants regardless of race or colour, will qualify for entry. In removing the colour bar ... the new rules will allow entry to some ten to 20,000 immigrants who previously would have been barred.

Published in Dawn October 22nd, 2016