Foreign Minister Abba S. Eban said tonight that if the Arabs were really willing to negotiate a peace settlement, a formula could be found. In a speech summing up a foreign affairs debate in the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, Mr. Eban said it was Israel’s aim to limit the Arab options to two: maintenance of the present cease-fire agreements or their conversion into peace treaties.
The Foreign Minister said Israel would be satisfied with nothing less than a contractual peace agreement which would include the practical steps for its implementation. He said that this will continue to be Israel’s stand when talks are resumed with Ambassador Gunnar V. Jarring, the United Nations special envoy in the Middle East.
(Dr. Jarring was due at his Nicosia, Cyprus headquarters tonight after several days of conferences at the United Nations during which he reportedly received clearance on proposals to invite Israel, Egypt and Jordan to send delegations to Nicosia.)
Mr. Eban referred to the speech at Helwan Sunday by President Nasser of Egypt threatening renewal of the war to reclaim the territories occupied by Israel after the June war and said that Israel had noted the threats and would draw its conclusions. He said President Nasser’s “unmitigated belligerency” threatened the door to peace that was Israel’s only chance of leaving behind it the nightmare of the situation that prevailed last June.
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