Israel Accepts the Cease-fire, Cabinet Decision
(October 22, 1973)
On 22 October Secretary of State Kissinger visited Israel and conferred with the Prime Minister and senior Ministers. He explained the background for Security Council Resolution 338. Even before his arrival, the Israel Government had already accepted that Resolution. Following is the text of the Cabinet's decision:
At its meeting this morning (Monday), the Cabinet decided unanimously to accept the proposal of the US Government and President Nixon, and to announce its readiness to agree to a cease-fire in accordance with the Security Council Resolution following the joint US-Soviet draft proposal.
Under the terms of this proposed Resolution, the military forces will remain in the positions they occupy upon the coming into effect of the cease-fire. Israel will insist on an exchange of prisoners.
The implementation of the cease-fire is conditional upon reciprocity.
The Cabinet decision will be brought to the notice of the Foreign Affairs and Defence committee and of the Knesset.
The proposed US-Soviet resolution submitted to the Security Council reads as follows:
"The Security Council
1) Calls upon all parties to the present fighting to cease all firing and terminate all military activity immediately, not later than 12 hours after the moment of the adoption of this decision, in the positions they now occupy.
2) Calls upon the parties concerned to start immediately after the cease-fire the implementation of Security Council Resolution 242 (1967) in all of its parts,
3) Decides that immediately and concurrently with the cease-fire, negotiations start between the parties concerned under appropriate auspices aimed at establishing a just and durable peace in the Middle East."
With regard to paragraph 2 of the proposed Resolution, the Cabinet has decided to instruct Israel's representative at the United Nations to include in his address to the Security Council a passage clarifying that Israel's agreement to this paragraph is given in the meaning defined by Israel when she decided, in August 1970, to accept the initiative of the US Government regarding the cease-fire as notified to the United Nations on 4 August 1970, and as announced by the Prime Minister, Mrs. Golda Meir, in the Knesset on the same date.
The Minister of Defence and the Chief of Staff reported on the situation on the battle fronts.
At 4 p.m., the Government issued the following statement: The Government of Israel has been informed that the Government of Egypt has instructed the armed forces of Egypt to cease hostilities in accordance with the Security Council Resolution concerning the cease-fire.
Following upon this, the Government of Israel has issued orders to the Israel Defence Forces on the Egyptian front to stop firing at 1850 hours Israel time today, 22 October, provided it is confirmed that the Egyptians have indeed ceased hostilities.
The cease-fire will therefore come into effect at the end of the 12-hour period stipulated by the Security Council Resolution.
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