Arab Refugees Willing to Settle with Israel, Archbishop Hakkim Says

Many thousands of Arab refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, as well as in Europe, are ready to give up immediately any claims for abandoned property in Israel, if compensated in accordance with the 1943 value of the property, Greek Catholic Archbishop George Hakkim declared here today. The Cairo-born Christian dignitary is the spiritual head of the 20, 000 Christian Arabs in Israel.

Archbishop Hakkim made his statement in an exclusive interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. He has just returned from an extensive tour of Arab countries and of Europe, during which he maintained close contact with wide circles of Arabs.

The Archbishop expressed confidence in his viewpoint on the basis of personal talks with leaders of Christian and Moslem Arab refugees during this recent visit, as well as during previous visits to Arab countries. He said that at least some of the Arab governments, while they would not say so publicly, would favor receipt of compensation in exchange for giving up claims on property. “They would look the other way” if refugees received money and signed waivers, he declared.

The clergyman stated that many Arab refugees would readily leave the places where they live in Arab countries now, and go to South America, once they received money. The Archbishop suggested that the Israel Government make an unequivocal announcement, earmarking annually $5, 000, 000 to $10, 000, 000 for refugee compensation, and make the facts about compensation available among the refugees.

He emphasized that Israel must not make compensation conditional on the consent of the Arab countries which would refuse to give such formal consent. Instead of making such conditions, he held, Israel should insist only that refugees receiving compensation deposit documents with a neutral agency, waiving their claims to property left in Israel.