Arab delegates to the United Nations triangular Middle East peace talks were reported today to have insisted, as they began discussion with members of the Palestine Conciliation Commission on the latter’s five-point peace program, that priority be given to the question of the Palestine Arab refugees.
The meeting was held behind closed doors and no date was set for the next commission session. If the Arabs persist in their demand for settlement of the Palestine Arab refugee question before proceeding to discuss a peace agreement, the conference is expected to break down. The Israelis are firm in their insistence that the refugee question can be considered only within the framework of a general peace settlement, and the U.N. Commission leans to that view.
Arab reaction to the UN proposals remains confused and contradictory, While Ahmed Chukairy, Syrian delegate and assistant secretary of the Arab League, told American newsmen most of the UN proposals were unacceptable, he was quoted by the Paris daily, Combat, as declaring that “peace between Israel and the Arabs is possible.”
(The Times of London said today that the Arab reaction was “not unfavorable.” Is said if the Arabs could obtain satisfaction on the refugee question, they might be willing to give way on other outstanding points.)
The Israeli delegation declined to comment on the proposals today. The Israeli views will be made known to the commission probably on Thursday or Friday.
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