A delegation representing the House Foreign Affairs Committee subcommittee on Near Eastern Affairs returned today “with the overwhelming impression that Israel was making a determined effort to translate the aftermath of its astounding military victory into a durable peace.”
Rep, Leonard Farbstein, New York Democrat, and Rep. William Broomfield, Michigan Republican, visited Israel and met with Prime Minister Levi Eshkol and other leaders. They said Mr. Eshkol outlined a suitable peace plan for Jordan, but they thought it depended upon the willingness of King Hussein to enter negotiations. The Congressmen said in a joint statement that “since there has been nothing to indicate such (Arab) intent, the general impression is that there will be no further major changes for several months.”
Premier Eshkol informed the Congressmen that the territories of the West Bank had never been recognized as part of Jordan “even by the Arabs.” He said that within the framework of a general peace settlement, Israel would be prepared to come to an agreement to grant Jordan free passage to the Mediterranean, to work toward Arab refugee problem solutions, and economic developmental cooperation with Jordan.
The Congressmen reported that Mr. Eshkol “would agree that the safeguarding of the Islamic holy places should be in the hands of Jordan.” They were “particularly gratified” by the Israeli policy to work toward Arab refugee settlement. It was also their conviction that “Israel will firmly guarantee access to the holy places of Jerusalem to all Moslem and Christian pilgrims.”
Rep. Robert Taft, Jr., Ohio Republican, said today on his return from Israel that he saw “a good chance” for direct negotiations between the Arabs and Israel but thought it would take “a little time.” He stressed that the United States should try to promote direct negotiations. “The results are far more likely to be lasting than if we seek a settlement through some intermediary, some international agency where there is no face-to-face meeting,” he stated.
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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.
