Jordan Press Calls Upon Arab States to Solve Refugee Problem

While the United Nations in New York is in the midst of its annual debate on the Arab refugee problem, the press of Jordan, in an unprecedented development, has begun calling for the Arab states themselves to take action toward a solution of the ten year old problem. The majority of the Palestine Arab refugees live in Jordan.

The Jordan press, for the first time, has stated bluntly that the Arabs themselves must take care of the refugees and stop trying to place the blame on others. The most dramatic editorial to appear thus far was in today’s Falastin which said the Arabs were responsible for the existence of the refugee problem.

It held the Arabs at fault for refusing to cooperate in 1947 with the UN partition decision, with invading Israel in 1947 and with obstructing the resettlement efforts of the past 10 years.

Falastin, as well as the other Jordanian newspapers, warn both the refugees and the Arab ‘host” governments that the UN discussion of what will be done with the Arabs after 1960 “may be the last opportunity” to find an equitable solution, with outside assistance, of the refugee situation.

The refugee leaders, under heavy Nasserist pressure, do not take the same views. These leaders have cabled Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold threatening that the refugees will “start to march to re-occupy their lands” if the UN Relief and Works Agency for the refugees is disbanded in 1960.

(In New York, Dr. Joachim Prinz, president of the American Jewish Congress, said in a statement that “the only solution to the wretched plight of the Arab refugees is resettlement in the vast untenanted Arab lands.” Such a resettlement plan, accompanied by large scale, internationally-financed development projects, could restore the refugees to a useful and productive life. It would, at the same time, remove a major threat to world peace which their homelessness represents, the American Jewish Congress leader stated.)