A Dutch-born Israeli and a pro-Israel member of The Netherlands Parliament have both criticized Israel for its adamant stand against recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Willem Aantjes, Parliamentary chairman of the Dutch Calvanist Party (ARP), said in a radio interview here yesterday that Israel was “unwise” in saying that it would never talk to the PLO and by unconditionally refusing to participate in the Security Council’s Middle East debate which began yesterday because the PLO was invited to participate.
Yaakov Arnon, former director general of the Israeli Finance Ministry and a founder of the recently formed Israel Palestine Committee, criticized Israel on a television interview Saturday night for being unwilling to recognize the PLO because of past acts of terrorism committed by it. Arnon recalled that many states established during the past 25 years had started as terrorist movements and asserted that the national aspirations of the Palestinians should be recognized as well as the same Jewish aspirations.
Before settling in Israel, Arnon was chairman of the Netherlands Zionist Organization. The Israel Palestine Committee is composed of Israeli public figures and others who maintain that Israel should agree to negotiate with any Arab group that recognizes it, including the PLO.
WARNS ISRAEL FURTHER ISOLATED
Aantjes, a well-known supporter of Israel, said the Israel government’s refusal to have any dealings with the PLO “isolates Israel even more which is the last thing we would want to happen.” He said Israel should express willingness to negotiate with the PLO on condition that the latter recognizes Israel’s right to exist as a state within secure, recognized borders and that the PLO officially abandons all acts of terrorism against Israel and its official position that the Jewish State must be eliminated.
Similar views were expressed by the Dutch political commentator B.J. Hiltermann on his weekly radio program Sunday and by Arie Kuiper the pro-Israel editor of the Dutch Catholic weekly “De Tijo.” The Saturday night TV program on which Arnon appeared included an interview with Mayor Hay Mazuz of Nablus who accused Israel of taking all fertile lands from the Arabs, leaving them only barren hills.
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