55 years ago/May 28, 1967

Prime Minister Levi Eshkol’s address to Israel in the radio. He told that Israel was looking for a solution through diplomacy, but the blockade of the Straits of Tiran was an aggressive action against Israel, and Israel had the right for self-defence. After the speech it is said that Eshkol was hesitant, and the pressure was growing on him to reinforce the government. At a press conference President Gamal Abdel Nasser called Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson’s opposition to the withdrawal of the UNEF “a hostile act, and neo-colonialism”, and called him a “defender, and an advocate for Israel.” He, also, practically repeated his critics against the US and the UK, and praised de Gaulle. He said that the Suez Canal would work on in case nobody helped Israel, but he insisted that they wouldn’t let Israeli ships through the Straits of Tiran.