The Israel Cabinet met today and it is believed that Israel’s stand toward the projected United Nations summit conference was one of the major subjects discussed. The continued flights of British and American planes from Cyprus to Lebanon and Jordan over Israel territory was another subject discussed. Israel’s position on the summit conference seems to be the following:
1. Israel, as a Middle East country, should be invited to any meeting discussing the future of the Middle East.
2. Any decision taken in Israel’s absence at the summit conference is not upon the Israel Government.
3. Israel is not interested that the Israel-Arab conflict should be specifically discussed at the summit conference. The Great Powers could contribute to a solution of this specific problem by inducing the Arab to start talks on a permanent Israel-Arab settlement.
4. In view of the patent inability of the United Nations to insure full compliance with such decisions, Israel does not under the present circumstances favor an arms embargo on the Middle East.
Premier David Ben Gurion sent today a personal letter to French Premier Charles de Gaulie outlining Israel’s position on various problems that may arise in connection with the summit conference. Mr. Ben Gurion reportedly requested Gen. de Gaulle’s support of Israel’s position on these subjects.
The letter, it is presumed, sums up the views which Israel’s Foreign Minister Golda Meir would have presented to Gen. de Gaulle personally tomorrow had she not fallen ill. It is understood that Premier Ben Gurion’s letter is not a substitute for Mrs. Meir’s visit to Paris. Mrs. Meir is recuperating satisfactorily and it is hoped that she will be able to fly to Paris next week. However, it was felt here that the French Premier should have Israel’s views as early as possible since the Big Powers are engaged now in determining their attitudes toward the summit parley.
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