Israeli Deputy Ambassador Jacob Doron urged the Arab States today to take the refugee question “out of the field of useless oratory and polemics” and “approach it in a spirit of good will and cooperation.” In a speech late this afternoon in the General Assembly’s Special Political Committee, Doron declared: “Let us work for a better and brighter future for the benefit of all the inhabitants of our region, Israel and Arab citizens alike.”
Before reaching this conclusion, Doron charged that “The Arab refugee problem is a direct result of the aggression launched by the Arab States together with some Palestinian elements immediately after that (partition) resolution had been adopted (on Nov. 29, 1947)” by the UN.
Doron decried “official Arab propaganda” that “would have the world think of the Arab refugee as a person deprived of all the amenities of a decent life,” whereas “very little of this picture corresponds to facts.” The Arab States, he charged, “not only wish to keep the problem alive for political purposes.” but as part of their design for continued warfare against Israel.
FIVE-YEAR PLAN HAD BEEN REJECTED
Had the Arab governments responded “positively” four years ago to Foreign Minister Abba Eban’s call for a conference of Middle East States to chart a five-year plan to end the refugee stalemate “in advance of peace negotiations.” Doron said, “a constructive solution of the problem could by now have been nearly achieved and accomplished.”
Now, however, considering “the present attitude of Arab governments and their unabated and even increasing support of the terror organizations,” Doron continued, Israel can “hardly be expected” to “agree to an unrestricted influx of refugees.” Doron maintained that “as a direct result of the security measures undertaken in 1971 in Gaza, there has been a sharp decrease of terror acts, which went down to practically nil.”
Thus, he said, “One should not speak any more of frustrated refugees, but of the frustrated leadership of the terror organizations and of certain Arab countries, who try to vent their spleen on innocent civilians.”
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