Aubrey S. Eban, Israel delegate to the U.N., today added the Jewish state’s delegation to the growing list of United Nations members supporting full independence for the former Italian colonies–Libya, Eritrea and Somaliland.
However, he called attention to the problem of minorities in Libya. “In assisting the Libyan people to attain its independence,” he said, speaking in the Political Committee debate on the Italian colonies problem, “the United Nations is entitled to request from Libyan national representatives firm commitments for the preservation of minority rights and fundamental freedoms.
“The large Jewish community which has already been subjected to the fearful ordeal of attack and spoliation must receive special consideration and safeguards in the light of its future as the Jewish minority in an Arab state,” he continued. “The General Assembly cannot be unaware of the unsatisfactory position of such minorities elsewhere.”
Mr. Eban asserted that he was giving expression to Israel’s “steadfast desire” to see that all states in the Middle East would achieve not only individual independence but also “their collective harmony–a harmony based on regional cooperation and not an exclusive racial or cultural solidarity which has been stressed too heavily in this debate. Some of our colleagues,” he added, “have even expressed their surprise to see Israel supporting the emergence of an eighth Arab state, after deriving such little enjoyment from its relations with the seven already existing. This is because we regard the prospect of eventual harmony as immeasurably more important and significant than the reality of present discord.”
The Israel delegate also suggested that any proposal for partition of Eritrea be delayed until the people of Eritrea had expressed their aspirations on the subject. Regarding Somaliland, Mr. Eban came out for U.N. trusteeship council control pending the independence of that nation. In this he favored the Soviet argument rather than the American and British solution, which suggests Italian administration of the area during the period before independence is achieved.
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