Foreign Minister Abba Eban clarified again this evening Israel’s position on Syria and the Geneva Conference, In an official statement he said the Israel government’s position was that it would refuse to sit at the peace conference with Syria until Syria submits lists of POWs and allows Red Cross officials to visit them and treats the POWs according to the Geneva Convention provisions.
He added that he hoped Syria would accede to appeals from the Red Cross and from the sponsors of the peace conference. Unless this is one Israel would be prepared to sit at the conference without Syria and Just with Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon
Eban sought to check speculations which arose today as a result of a dispute between him and Defense Minister Moshe Dayan on Israel’s position on this Issue. He denied a news report here that he had “expressed reservations” at Dayan’s statement yesterday. He had not referred to it but had merely explained in answer to questions the government’s position.
Dayan yesterday declared Israel would not attend the Geneva conference if Syria refused to issue lists of POWs and allow Red Cross visits, It was unclear whether he meant Israel would boycott the conference if Syria were invited- -or only if Syria actually sought to attend.
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