An Israeli view of the eventual disposition of territories occupied in the Six-Day War was stated by certain sources here. The sources divided the territories into four categories, ranging from those from which only partial withdrawal is possible and territory which Israel will insist on retaining for security and other reasons. There was also a category on which no definite position has been formulated to date.
The sources indicated that in some instances the establishment of Israeli settlements in administrated territory did not preclude eventual Israeli withdrawal but in others the settlements were established to consolidate Israel’s permanent retention of the area. In the former category, the sources listed settlements such as Nahal Yam and along the Badawill Lagoon in northwest Sinai whose existence would not interfere with a decision to withdraw with in the framework of an eventual peace treaty.
SECURITY A DETERMINING FACTOR
However, settlements established in the Jordan Valley and on the Golan Heights were described as serving fundamental security needs and indicate that Israel intends to remain permanently in those regions, the sources said.
Territories that Israel is not prepared to give up under any circumstances were given as East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the land approaches to Sharm el Sheikh in southern Sinai, No final position has been taken with regard to certain other territories where Jewish settlement has been established.
One of these is Hebron where a Jewish population existed until 1929 and the surrounding area where Jewish settlements were in existence until 1948. Whether or not Israel withdraws it will on the right of Jews to live in Hebron which the Orthodox regard as the second holiest city after Jerusalem, the sources said.
STRONG ISRAEL NIXON’S TRUMP CARD
Discussing global aspects of the Middle East conflict, the sources expressed the belief that a strong Israel may be President Nixon’s trump card in his talks with Soviet leaders in Moscow next May. They also thought that an interim agreement with Egypt to reopen the Suez Canal held both advantages and disadvantages for Israel and for Western strategy.
They noted that once the waterway was back in use the Soviets would be in a position to expand their presence in the Indian Ocean and radically change the power balance in East Africa and on the Indian sub-continent. On the other hand, Egyptian morale would be bolstered enabling them to loosen the Russian grip. As far as Israel is concerned, withdrawal from the east bank of the Suez Canal would mean a retreat from its best natural line of defense, the sources said.
The Joint Distribution Committee has sent more than 607,500 lbs. of matzoh and matzo meal and 21,700 bottles of Passover wine to Europe and North Africa to help Jewish communities celebrate Passover properly.
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