Israel Worried over Tension Between Russia and Western Bloc at the United Nations

Members of the Israeli delegation at the United Nations today made no secret of the fact that they are greatly concerned over the growing tension between the eastern and western blocs in connection with the impending fight over Berlin in the Security Council. They pointed out that Israel’s cause was advanced previously at the United Nations only when the American and Soviet positions coincided.

Under mounting pressure from both blocs at the U.N., the Israeli delegation is eagerly awaiting the arrival from Tel Aviv of Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok who is expected here either Wednesday or Thursday. Meanwhile, the delegation is holding informal discussions with envoys of the major western powers.

The United States and Britain are continuing to press for the speediest possible implementation of Bernadotte’s recommendations. Representatives of full recognition and vorable action on the application of the Jewish state for membership in the United Nations, as well as the granting of financial assistance, depend on Israel’s surrender of the Negev.

It was learned today that Faris el Khoury, Syrian delegate to the U.N., has approached the Russians to feel out what chances exist for a rapprochement between the Arabs and the Soviets. Although the Russian are reported to welcome the Arabs’ opposition to Bernadotte’s report, Yaacov Malik, Russian envoy to the U.N., told the Syrian delegate that Soviet policy on Palestine is still based on the premise that the Nov. 29 General Assembly Palestine partition resolution must be implemented.

BEVIN URGES SPEEDY U.N. ACTION ON BERNADOTTE RECOMMENDATIONS

British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin this morning called on the U.N. General

“If we fail to make a decision in the next few weeks, hostilities might break out again with incalculable consequences,” Bevin declared. “We believe that the plan is one in which the two parties should be able to acquiesce without sacrificing any of their vital interests,” he stated, adding that “we believe that it offices the best hope of healing the breach between these two Semitic people.”

The successful establishment of the truce was due in large part to the devotion and courage of the late Count Bernadotte, the British Fore Secretary ###d. He also stated that “nobody was in a better position” than Bernadotte to ###te the kind of settlement which would give the “best prospects of stable and Peaceful conditions in Palestine.” He said that it was fortunate that Bernadotte completed his report before he was assassinated.

Mohammad Zafrullah Khan, Pakistanti delegate to the United Nations, served notice in the General Assembly today that Pakistan is opposed to the late U.N. mediator’s reorientations for resolving the Palestine dispute on the grounds that it would stamp with official U.N. approval “the most insidious aggression carried on for a third of a century which is contrary to all principles of the U.N. Charter.”

Reiterating his now familiar arguments that Zionism is the spearhead of western aggression in the east, Knan told the Assembly that “at no time and under no circumstances will the east ever assimilate or reconcile itself to a sovereign state

ARAB DELEGATIONS ANNOUNCE OPPOSITION TO BERNADOTTE’S PLAN

Sayid Nadjib Alrawi, of Iraq, asserted that the Arab delegates to the U.N.–acting on instructions from their respective governments and on advice from the Arab league–have agreed to oppose Count Bernadotte’s proposals. “The instruction to the Arab delegations is to oppose the plan and to decline any counterproposals which do not provide for an independent Arab state in Palestine, he said.

“We fought and shall always fight for the establishment of a free Palestinian state where the Arabs represent the majority and the Jews the minority,” he declared. The future Arab state of Palestine welcomes the Jews as a respected minority with the same rights as the majority,” he added.

Hector David Castro, of El Salvador, announced that his country–“always a supporter of Arab-Jewish conciliation”–favored the creation of a Jewish-Arab conciliation committee. Calling for an early settlement of the Palestine dispute, Castro stated that El Salvador will vote for the admission “of all peace-loving states.”