Deputy Premier Yigal Allon said today that Jewish settlement in the administered territories would encourage the prospects for a peace settlement with the Arabs. Addressing reporters on a tour of Jordan Valley settlements, Allon said “Land settlement may encourage a peace settlement. If they (the Arabs) realize–and they should have realized it long ago–that time does not stand still, that we cannot afford empty lands, particularly along a strategic zone, then the effect of settlement on peace should be positive.”
Allon also outlined for the first time publicly the elements of what has become known as the “Allon Plan.” The Deputy Premier, who is also the Education and Culture Minister, explained that in his view, Israel should keep security forces along the Jordan River while allowing the Arab population centers from Jenin to Hebron to return to Jordanian sovereignty. Allon said that he was describing the plan in detail now, not for the purpose of having the government reconsider it, but to underline the “principles” that he thinks should be followed when peace is near and feasible.
Allon appeared to disagree with Defense Minister Moshe Dayan who has repeatedly called for Jewish settlement in all the administered territories, Allon said that Israel should not rush into planning how many settlements it should build throughout the Jordan Valley.
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