The executive committee of Britain’s leading Opposition group, the Labor Party, is considering an official reappraisal of its Middle East policy, calling, among other things, for a fresh British initiative toward bringing about peace between Israel and the Arab states, it was reported here today. A three-point Middle East program has been prepared as an “information paper” for the party’s leader’s, the press reported. The points are:
1. Britain should express concern over the Middle East arms race, particularly about the development of missiles, appealing both to the Arab states and to Israel to renounce the use of all but conventional weapons.
2. A new initiative for an Arab-Israel peace settlement which is to include recognition of Israel by the Arab governments, ending of the economic blockade against Israel, and resettlement of the Arab refugees with “external” aid, providing compensation for those refugees who lost their lands in Israel.
3. Establishment of an economic council for the Middle East. This council would promote development programs for the entire Middle East region, insure a fairer distribution of oil revenues, and act as a channel for economic aid to the area.
Although the plan cannot be considered as representing the Labor Party’s official policy, it will provide guidelines for the thinking in the executive committee on the Middle East problems.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
