Leading delegations at the General Assembly emergency session here–especially those from Europe and America–are showing an increasing tendency to respect Israel’s rights and to take account of her views and needs. That was the opinion expressed by Israeli sources here today as they evaluated the progress made thus far in the session’s Middle East debate.
The principal resolutions being prepared for Assembly consideration–by Norway’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hans Engen, in consultation with the British and American delegations–is showing “a special interest in the general principles” of concern to Israel, the sources said. The resolution, it is understood, will ask the Assembly to affirm the duty of countries to abstain from hostile acts and to respect the independence and integrity of the Middle East states.
“It appears certain,” the Israeli sources said, “that these principles will be stated more broadly in the Western draft, and even in another resolution being prepared by Dr. Arthur Lall, of India, than in the speech made at the opening of the special Assembly by Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold.” That speech proposed that the Arab states alone exchange pledges of non-aggression.
These views by the Israeli sources came to the fore today after a heavy week-end schedule of conferences by Abba Eban, chairman of the Israel delegation here. Following a conference last Wednesday with United States Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, Mr. Eban, over the week-end, conferred with Selwyn Lloyd, Britain’s Foreign Secretary; Aiichiro Fujiyama, Foreign Minister of Japan; Dr. Frank Aiken, Foreign Minister of Ireland; New Zealand’s Sir Leslie Munro, president of the Assembly, and Mr. Engen.
In the talks, it is understood, the Israeli delegation chief discussed both the current business of the Assembly and Israel’s relations with the countries whose foreign policy chiefs he met. All the various talks, including that with Mr. Dulles, “confirmed Israel’s position and prestige,” the Israeli sources said.
Mr. Eban will make a full policy statement on behalf of his government when he participates in the Assembly’s general debate on Tuesday or Wednesday. It is understood that he will outline Israel’s views on the problems of nationalism in the Middle East, viewing the entire nationalist development in historic perspective.
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