Israel will continue its policy of non-involvement in the Vietnam conflict, according to the guidelines included in instructions to the Israeli delegation to the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly session, which were approved by the Cabinet today. The proposals were presented to the Cabinet by Foreign Minister Abba Eban who left for New York today immediately following the Cabinet meeting to head the delegation at the Assembly session which opens on Tuesday.
The Israel position on Vietnam, which is close to the American approach, favors an immediate cease fire and negotiations without prior conditions. The Israel Government, according to the guidelines, does not accept the French view that all foreign troops should be withdrawn from Vietnam as a precondition to peace.
Israel will not vote at the Assembly session in favor of the admission of Communist China at the expense of Formosa’s membership in the world body. The delegation was left the choice of abstaining on the issue or voting against the seating of Communist China according to the formulation of the draft resolution.
The Israeli Government remains uncommitted to any possible successor to Secretary General U Thant who will relinquish his post when his term expires in November. The Cabinet postponed a decision on this question until candidates are put forward for the post.
The Government’s instructions to the U.N. delegation call for continued support of the Africans in any question of racial discrimination and against the South African policy of apartheid. But Israel will not vote for any move expelling members or unseating delegations.
The Israeli delegation was instructed to press for detailed instructions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to strike out from the refugee ration lists any members of Ahmed Shukairy’s “Palestine Liberation Army. ” The agency will also be asked not to include in the lists the grandchildren of the original refugees in order to avoid the perpetuation of the refugee question.
Israel will also oppose any move to change the voting procedures of the General Assembly or to cancel the requirement of a two-thirds majority on important questions.
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