The Arab world was advised by Radio Baghdad, in a broadcast monitored here today, to forget the idea of a “war of extermination” against Israel.
The broadcast was made in support of Iraq Premier Kassem’s plan for creation of a “Palestine Republic” under the leadership of the former Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin el Husoeini, one-time Nazi collaborator. Renewed opposition of the plan, which would require Jordan to give up the territory west of the Jordan it absorbed during the attack on the new-born State of Israel in 1948, was expressed yesterday by Hazza Majali, Jordanian Prime Minister.
The Jordanian Prime Minister, said in Amman that the Jordan Government did not recognize the Arab Higher Committee or any other body as the legal representative of the Arab refugees. The refugees would, under Premier Kassem’s proposals, become the citizens of the proposed new Arab state.
The Baghdad broadcast quoted approvingly from an article in the Sudanese newspaper, “Rissala, ” which declared that “Arabs must once and for all understand that there cannot be an all-out attack on Israel which is a member in good standing of the United Nations. Proclaiming war on Israel–as Arabs so often promise–is tantamount to slapping the face of the United Nations. “
The newspaper also was quoted as warning that the Arab countries “must understand that if they continue war slogans against Israel, the result may be an outbreak of war in the entire Middle East in which the Great Powers inevitably will intervene.”
“Arabs should therefore welcome the best possible Palestine solution proposed by Premier Kassem, namely the establishment of an Arab Republic in the western part of Palestine, ” the broadcast citation from “Rissala” continued. “Such a plan does not involve war since it is in accord dance with United Nations resolutions. “
The ex-Mufti long advocated establishment of a “Palestine Government” with headquarters in Gaza, but President Nasser refused to back him. The Egyptians have, from time to time, advocated formation of a Palestine Arab State in order to weaken the Kingdom of Jordan.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
