A call to Israelis and Arabs to work together “in a new spirit of give and take” was voiced today by U.S. Ambassador Ely Palmer, head of the United Nations Conciliation Commission, in a statement formally opening the Arab-Israeli conciliation talks here.
Mr. Palmer made his plea separately to the Israeli delegation and to the delegations of the Arab countries since the latter refused to sit at the same table as the Israelis. He met with the Arabs in the morning and with the Israeli delegation in the afternoon. Each of the sessions was held behind closed doors but the meetings were identical. This will probably be the pattern of the entire conference.
At the meetings, Mr. Palmer emphasized that the Conciliation Commission has come to the conclusion that the Palestine problem must be considered in its entirety. The treating of problems out of context had not helped in the promotion of peace, he said, He also emphasized that Israel cannot be expected to make commitments unless it receives at the same time reasonable assurances from its neighbors as to its national and economic security.
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