Police Minister Shlomo Hillel said in the Knesset last night that he believed Israel would be willing to give up most of the occupied Arab territories in return for a genuine peace settlement. Mr. Hillel spoke in reply to a question from Shmuel Tamir, of the Free Center faction, who asked him to confirm statements attributed to him in an interview published in the French magazine, Nouvelle Observateur. Mr. Hillel said the last Knesset election indicated that the public rejected extremist views. A majority of Israelis believe that if there was a true peace settlement with the Arabs, Israel should adopt a “generous” approach as far as the borders are concerned. He said that he felt the nature of the peace was more important than the frontiers. He cautioned however, that Israel would not return territories and expose itself to danger in exchange for “palliatives.” A true peace, Mr. Hillel said, would oblige the Arabs to see to it that all foreign armies are withdrawn from their soil and that all joint military commands aimed against Israel are disbanded. He said the Arab League would also have to end its boycott of Israel and cease all other anti-Israel activities.
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