Egyptian and Jordanian spokesman said yesterday they were ready for a “peaceful settlement” with Israel if Israeli troops were withdrawn from “all Arab territories” seized during the 1967 war. Mohammed Hassanein Heykal, Minister of National Guidance (information) and editor of the semi-official newspaper Al Ahram said in Cairo, “all occupied territories” means the Golan Heights, the Sinai, former Jordanian Jerusalem and the West Bank. But he added, Egypt was not ready for a formal peace treaty with Israel. In Amman, King Hussein said the majority of his people would support a “just and durable ‘peace,” if Israel withdraws her troops from the territories occupied during the 1967 war. Mr. Heykal told reporters Egypt has accepted the American peace proposal because “we thought this was a chance not to be missed,” and America had finally a-greed to accept the Security Council resolution of Nov. 22, 1967 which called for Israeli withdrawal of occupied territories. The peace plan, he added, was proposed because of the failure of Israeli air and commando raids to demoralize the Egyptians, the growing strength of Egyptian military forces and increased Russian air defense of Egypt. He said the Palestinian commandos had attacked Egypt’s acceptance of the peace proposal because of a “misunderstanding” of Egypt’s policies. The cease-fire he added, does not effect the commandos who were free to continue their attacks on Israel.
In Amman, King Hussein voiced optimism that events would lead to a peaceful settlement in the Middle East, but said it would all depend on Israel’s attitude. If she does not agree to implement the Security Council resolution – which he interpreted to mean withdrawal from all occupied territories -a position, he implied, that Washington agreed with, then the situation would be serious, he said. He felt, he added, that a settlement could be reached returning East Jerusalem to Jordan with “safeguards” on the rights of all people to the Holy Places. He denied that there were any secret deals between Jordan and any other countries regarding the cease-fire and added, the extension of the 90-day cease-fire would depend upon events. Meanwhile, Syria and Iraq continued their attacks on Egypt for having accepted the cease-fire proposals. Syria reaffirmed that guerrilla warfare was the only way “to put an end to Zionist and imperialist aggression against the Arabs.” Iraq charged that Egypt was laying the groundwork for formal recognition of Israel.
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