Foreign Minister Abba Eban said in the Knesset (Parliament) today that Israel would neither permit itself to go back to the armistice lines of May. 1967, nor would it “block the path to peace by viewing the present cease-fire lines as its final and ultimate destination.” The Foreign Minister’s remarks were contained in a speech proposing his ministry’s budget for the 1969-70 fiscal year.
He said that Israel categorically rejected negotiations with Palestinian terrorist organizations as a diplomatic undertaking parallel to its dealings with the Arab states through United Nations envoy Gunnar V. Jarring. The terrorist groups, he said, are limited in strength and are no more than tools in the hands of the Arab governments, particularly Egypt’s. Mr. Eban said the question of peace concerns the sovereign states of the region. Israel does not regard itself on the same level as the terrorist organizations which seek the destruction of Israel’s sovereign existence while they are devoid of sovereignty, he said.
Mr. Eban denounced France’s anti-Israel stance. He said Israel rejected the French and Soviet view that the Big Four powers “have a special responsibility and extra rights in the region.” He expressed appreciation of United States declarations favoring an agreed solution of the Middle East conflict.
Mr. Eban said the aim of Israel’s foreign policy was to strengthen Israel as a Jewish State within new, agreed and secure borders while fashioning a relationship of peace and good neighborliness with the Arab states.
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