Ambassador Yosef Tekoah, Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told American Jewish leaders today that “the key to a Middle East peace Is in Washington,” as it had been since early June. He declared that Israel’s primary objective was to secure a permanent Middle East peace settlement. “All those who share this objective,” he said, “should encourage Israel to remain steadfast and uncompromising” towards that end.
In his first appearance before the Conference of President of Major American Jewish Organizations, the envoy declared that Israel and other Middle East countries were passing through “the most crucial period since 1948.” What Israel and its neighbors did, he said, “will determine whether there will be peace between Israel and the Arab nations tomorrow. Every step, attitude and policy adopted by Israel, or urged by her friends, therefore, must be appraised in the light of whether it will bring us closer to our fundamental aim.”
Mr. Tekoah cautioned against “wishful thinking” is giving credence to vague news dispatches emanating from Arab capitals in recent days. He stressed that the fundamental Arab attitude towards a peace settlement remained hostile and negative.
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