Alexander Knox Heln, British diplomatic representative to Israel, will leave for Tel Aviv this week, the Daily Telegraph reported here today. Elsewhere it is reported that Knox will leave with a staff of 40 persons.
Authoritative quarters today told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Knox’s leaving is not necessarily bound up with possible British de jure recognition of Israel. Although these same sources deprecate newspaper reports that British recognition will depend on Israel’s actions on Jerusalem and the Arab refugee problem, they state that Britain is attaching great importance to the Israeli attitude on repatriation.
These quarters visualize an agreement between Israel and the Arab states where by the former will readmit all refugees who desire to enter, while the latter will resettle those who refuse to return to their homes. It was pointed out that Britain has already demonstrated its support of resettlement by lending Transjordan money for this purpose.
On the other hand, there are many indications that the outcome of the current financial and trade discussions between Israel and Britain will have more of an effect ## recognition than the political questions.
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