Israel Satisfied with British Action; Criticizes Sale of Arms to Arabs

Satisfaction was expressed here today by the Israel Government with the British decision to grant it de jure recognition. The decision was communicated to the Israel Foreign Office by the British Government.

“The attitude of the British Government toward the question of the frontier between Israel and her neighbors appears to be realistic,” a spokesman of the Israel Foreign Ministry said. He expressed satisfaction that Britain was leaving the solution of the frontiers problem to the parties concerned.

“With regard to the British attitude on the Jerusalem issue,” the Israel official continued, “the stand of the Israel Government is well known and needs no further elaboration. Concerning the annexation by Transjordan of the areas west of the Jordan River, the Israel Government has already declared that it considers the status of these areas an open question.

“The Israel Government,” he said, “takes due note of the fact that the British Government does not intend to establish military bases in peace time in the areas west of the Jordan River. It further notes the hope expressed by the British Government that the steps which have now been taken will help to creat stability and contritute towards peace in the Middle East.

“The Israel Government cannot but reiterate its concern for the policy pursued by the British Government regarding the supply of arms to the Arab countries which refuse to enter peace negotiations with Israel, while simultaneously imposing an embargo on the supply of arms to Israel. This policy does not help to promote the objective of stability and peace which the Israel Government seeks wholeheartedly,” the official of the Israel Foreign Office concluded.