Foreign Minister Abba Eban told the Knesset (Parliament) today that the Israel Government had an agenda of peace proposals that it would present whenever peace talks with the Arabs come about. He declared, however, that Israel was “fully committed” to holding occupied territory until a peace settlement was achieved. Mr. Eban’s address was in the form of a report on developments at the United Nations for the past few months and Israel’s stand before the world body. In a discussion that followed, most speakers praised the conduct and achievements of Israel’s U.N. delegation.
The Foreign Minister said that Israel was totally committed to work toward peace, and he sharply criticized Arab and Soviet leaders who are not equally committed. The Soviet Union, he declared, should divide its friendship equally in the Middle East region, instead of staging bomber flights over Cairo and should devote its efforts to disarmament instead of promoting an arms race. He said that, after every battle, Arab leaders grow nostalgic for the status quo ante. Before 1967 they wanted to return to 1947, and now they want to return to June 4, but they must realize that this will not happen, Mr. Eban said.
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