Foreign Minister Abba Eban said here tonight that Israel would require no more than one week to come up with a solid position on occupied Arab territories should an Arab state, tomorrow, announce its readiness to negotiate. Mr. Eban made the statement at a press conference here when asked about the conflicting views within the Government on the future status of the occupied territories. “For the present there is no need to be unanimous as the contingency of a peace offer has not arisen,” he added. The foreign minister said that all major questions are negotiable and, in reply to a question, said that this included certain matters concerning Jerusalem. In the latter category he mentioned negotiations with Israel’s Arab neighbors and other parties on the status of Moslem and Christian holy places in the city.
Earlier in the day. United Nations peace envoy, Ambassador Gunnar Jarring, conferred for 90 minutes with Mr. Eban and his aides. According to diplomatic sources their discussions today, as in past meetings, centered around the question of an agreement on Israel-Arab talks under Dr. Jarring auspices.
Mr. Eban opened his press conference with a review of the past year’s event and Israel’s situation on the eve of the 20th anniversary of its independence. “The past year began in agony and peril and ended with the recognition by most of the world’s free countries that something new must be constructed in the Middle East,” he said. “No longer is their talk of armistice demarcation lines but of secure and agreed boundaries.” However, Mr. Eban said, the reconstruction of the Middle East involves juridical, political, emotional and territorial problems. He said that Israel’s attitude remains firm – that the cease-fire lines must be maintained until a negotiated agreement is achieved.
He branded Egypt as the main obstacle to peace. “Everything communicated to Israel by U.N. sources and by representatives of governments that have embassies in both Israel and Egypt is fully consistent with the public statements made by President Nasser in his recent speeches.” Mr. Eban said “They can be summed up by the Khartoum formula decided upon by the Arab heads of state – no peace, no recognition, no negotiations.” The foreign minister thought Jordan’s failure to accept U.N, peace envoy Gunnar Jarring’s proposal to come to the negotiating table under his auspices was a function of the Egyptian stand. “Jordan does not want to break away from a united Arab front, although objectively she should feel more urgently the need for negotiations with Israel.” Mr. Eban said.
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