Israel Rejects New Offensive in UN by Islamic States and the PLO

Ambassador Yehuda Blum of Israel met with U.S. Ambassador Donald McHenry last night to “exchange views” and to discuss the upcoming session of the Security Council on Jerusalem. Sources here said Blum told McHenry that Israel categorically rejects the new offensive against Israel by the Islamic countries and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The Islamic UN member states are requesting the Council meeting as a response to the proclamation by the Knesset that undivided Jerusalem is Israel’s capital.

UN sources said today that the U.S. is certain to veto any resolution that calls for economic sanctions against Israel. However, despite the threat of a U.S. veto, militant Moslem countries and the PLO were said to be going ahead with their drive to have the Council vote on a harsh anti-Israel resolution calling for economic sanctions.

Diplomats here asserted that a resolution that demands an immediate economic embargo on Israel is not even likely to receive the nine necessary votes to adopt a resolution in the Council. In that case, the U.S. will not have to use its veto power, the diplomats pointed out.

According to sources here, the Council is not Tikely to meet before Friday or the beginning of next week. Israel is planning to participate in the debate and Blum will address the meeting.

Apart from the present working paper of the PLO and the other extremists which calls for an immediate economic embargo of Israel, another “more moderate,” working paper is circulating here among Council members. It proposes that Israel be given three months to rescind its Jerusalem law or face sanctions. This “moderate” proposition is also certain to be vetoed by the U.S. diplomats said.