Stevenson: Arafat Less Intransigent Than Leaders of Iraq and Syria

Sen. ‘Adlai Stevenson III (D.III.) said today that he met with PLO chieftain Yasir Arafat and found him less intransigent than the leaders of Iraq and Syria with whom he also met on his current Middle East tour. Stevenson, who arrived here from Teheran last night, will be meeting with Premier Yitzhak Rabin. He said he believed that in order to avoid a new war in the Middle East, it was necessary to maintain multi-party contacts that included all parties in the Mideast conflict, presumably meaning the Palestinians as well as the Arab states.

SECRET ISRAEL-ARAB CONTACTS

Meanwhile, Minister-Without-Portfolio Israel Galili disclosed last night that secret contacts have taken place between Israel and its Arab neighbors and will continue to take place. He refused to elaborate, in his address at Ben Gurion University in Beersheba, noting that the other side insists on secrecy and the Israeli government is keeping these contacts secret.

Galili stressed the difference between contacts and negotiations. He told his audience that Israel was open to contacts with the Arab states and the Palestinians. He said it could be assumed that Palestinians who are prominent in the government and parliament of Jordan would participate in discussions, including the Geneva conference.

Galili reiterated that Israel will never negotiate with the PLO and was unalterably opposed to a third state between itself and Jordan. However, he said, the problem of Palestinian national identity must be part of a solution of the Mideast conflict and this could be accomplished in the framework of negotiations with Jordan.