Israel’s bid for some kind of link with the European Common Market has caused new rifts among Arab League countries, it was reported here today from Beirut.
Questions are again being raised in Lebanon as to who is being hurt most by the Arab boycott–Israel or members of the League, such as Lebanon. Pierre Gemayel, member of the Lebanese Cabinet, was quoted as saying that the boycott was applied by Arab League officials without regard for Lebanon’s economy and “with too much regard for Egypt’s economy.”
He was also quoted as demanding that the Boycott Office in Lebanon should be attached to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry and that alleged offenders of the blockade should have every opportunity to answer boycott charges and of having their names removed from the League blacklist.
According to the reports, these views are opposed by other Arab League states, who contend that trade with Israel amounts to “trading with the enemy.” Foes of Lebanon also were reported to assert that the Lebanese Ministry of Economics, to which the boycott office is attached, has remained silent. They say that if this Ministry cannot judge the effect of the boycott on the Lebanese economy, then no one can.
Observers here said that the dispute springs partly from Lebanon’s consistent attempt to remain poised between opposing forces. Lebanon was understood to be opposed to views that if Israel receives a link with the EEC, all Arab countries should sever relations with EEC countries on the premise that the Common Market was simply a device to serve western and colonial ends.
It was reported that Lebanon and a few other Arab countries felt that the best way to deal with EEC problems was for the Arabs to form a corresponding trade area on an Arab or Afro-Asian or non-aligned basis. The Arabs have scheduled two meetings at which they hope to clarify these issues. One will be a conference of all Arab boycott offices which will open in Khartum tomorrow. The other is a meeting of the Arab League council in Saudi Arabia at the end of March.
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