Israel reiterated to friendly Western powers this week that it does not place much weight on the proposal they individually suggested to Jerusalem that a special United Nations representative be designated to investigate the possibilities of bringing about peace talks between Israel and the Arab states.
These proposals, it was learned today, were carried to the Foreign Ministry by the representatives of several friendly countries. Israeli officials advised them that Israel did not believe mediation or arbitration could bring about a peace settlement, but only direct Arab-Israeli face-to-face talks could achieve this.
To the envoys who brought these proposals, it was learned, Israel handed a background document explaining the Israeli position on basic issues, including the principle of direct face-to-face peace talks. Israel, the diplomats were told, would encourage their efforts if these efforts did not involve third-party participation in the potential direct talks between Israel and the Arab states.
Israelis recalled that a proposal to appoint a special United Nations representative for the Middle East with instructions to seek means of bringing about an Arab-Israeli settlement had been made to the special emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly last summer. Lord Caradon, head of the British delegation, was the author of the proposal.
(The special session of the General Assembly to deal with the Middle East situation has been convened for Sept. 18, a day before the opening of the regular Assembly session, it was announced today.)
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