The Labor Party’s review of the Middle East situation was completed at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labor Party yesterday without a decision being reached on a party line in Parliament on the issue, it was learned here today. The discussion within the party lasted several weeks.
It was learned that while some MP’s suggested that the party maintain a “neutral” position between Israel and the Arab states, many members, led by Richard Crossman, one of Israel’s warmest advocates, re-emphasized Socialist support for the Jewish State. A large number of MP’s are known to favor arms and a security guarantee for Israel. Kenneth Younger, a minister in the late Labor Government, reported that an authoritative Egyptian source had interpreted Prime Minister Eden’s recent “compromise” speech as an invitation to Israel to surrender the Negev as far north as Beersheba.
The Liberal Party will discuss the Middle East situation Saturday at a quarterly meeting of the party council. The group will have before it a resolution criticizing the Eden Government for having increased the danger of a conflict between Israel and the Arab states, and calling for the maintenance of a strict military balance among the Middle East states and the opening of direct peace negotiations.
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