Leaders of the nine European Economic Community (EEC) countries last night put their full weight behind President Carter’s call for the creation of a Palestinian homeland, urged Israel to recognize the “legitimate rights” of the Palestinian people and said the Palestinians should be represented in Middle East peace negotiations “in an appropriate manner to be worked out in consultation between the parties concerned.”
In a major political statement at the EEC’s summit meeting in London, the text of which was issued by British Prime Minister James Callaghan, the nine also said Israel should give up territory occupied since 1967 while the Arabs should recognize Israel’s right to secure and recognized boundaries. After referring to the Middle East’s “critical” situation, the statement said it was “crucial” that there should be early and successful negotiations towards a just and lasting peace.
The nine affirmed their belief that “a solution will be possible only if the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to give effective expression to its national identity is translated into fact, which would take into account the need for a homeland for the Palestinian people.
“They consider that representatives of the parties to the conflict, including the Palestinian people, must participate in the negotiations in an appropriate manner to be worked out in consultation between all the parties concerned.
“In the context of an overall settlement, Israel must be ready to recognize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people: equally, the Arab side must be ready to recognize the right of Israel to live in peace in secure and recognized boundaries.”
SEEN AS NEW MAJOR STEP
The nine reaffirmed their previous Middle East declarations of 1973 and 1976, based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and offered to contribute “to the extent that the parties wish” towards finding a settlement and putting it into effect. They welcomed all the efforts which had been made so far to end the conflict. There was a gloomy reaction to the statement in Israeli diplomatic circles here last night. One official said tartly: “It’s a nice statement if you happen to be a Palestinian.”
In fact, it contains little that has not previously been said in the name of the EEC. Nevertheless, coming at a summit of all the leaders of the European community, the statement is a major new step in Middle East diplomacy. The document was, in fact, transmitted to the U.S. government before its publication.
It was drawn up, too, in the light of the change of Israel’s government. A passage in the document urging “realistic” and “constructive” approaches to a settlement, was seen here as a sign of European disapproval of Israeli Premier Menachem Begin’s policies over the West Bank and the issue of Palestinian rights.
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