A few hours prior to the opening of the Arab-Israeli conciliation conference in Paris today, the Israel Government announced acceptance of the United Nations Palestine Conciliation Commission’s invitation to attend the parley.
In a letter of acceptance sent to the chairman of the Commission, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Moshe Sharett, reviewed the Commission’s efforts to bring about a permanent peace between Israel and the Arab countries and emphasized that these efforts have been frustrated by the refusal of the Arabs to cooperate.
Recalling the latest activities by Syria and Egypt against Israel, Mr. Sharett said: “Unless there exists on both sides a willingness for agreement, it is difficult to see how progress towards agreement can be made.” He suggested that the Conciliation Commission should obtain from the parties concerned an assurance that they accept as their objective the final settlement of all questions outstanding between them. He pointed out that Israel is ready to give such an assurance.
Until such a stage is reached, Mr. Sharett emphasized, Israel does not consider it profitable to negotiate specific points isolated from their general context. The best way to show willingness for agreement is willingness to meet, he said. He added that a lasting solution of the Arab-Israeli problems can be obtained by free negotiations between both parties, without the involvement of a third party.
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