Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol left here today after a weeklong visit to England during which he met with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and other British leaders. Mr. Eshkol will spend several days in southern France with Mrs. Eshkol before returning to Israel.
In a brief prepared statement which Mr. Eshkol read before his departure, the Israeli Premier said that he had come to Britain to discuss a number of questions such as the political situation in the Middle East, the water situation, Israel’s security position and economic issues as well as to meet the Jewish community here. “These aims have been achieved,” he declared.
In reply to a question, Mr. Eshkol said that Israel and West Germany will probably exchange ambassadors and open embassies in each country within one or two months. Replying to another question, the Premier said: “No pressure had been exerted on us here or anywhere else. We are a sovereign state. We may have been tendered advice and counsel on a number of questions but this in no way can be interpreted as pressure.”
He reiterated his support for a complete arms embargo in the Middle East but said that this was a most complicated problem since it is linked with numerous kinds of weapons in the area and had to be accompanied by close inspection. Asserting that he was not contemplating a visit to the United States in the near future, Mr. Eshkol said, however, that there was a possibility of such a visit by Foreign Minister Golda Meir.
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