Knesset to Hear Today Israel’s Stand on the Merger of Arab Countries

Israel’s stand toward the Egyptian-Syrian merger and the Jordan-Iraqi federation will be outlined in Parliament tomorrow by Foreign Minister Golda Meir. She will reply to a question posed by Herut deputies. It will be Israel’s first official pronouncement on the subject.

Qualified approval of the mergers of Egypt and Syria and of Jordan and Iraq was expressed in unofficial comments for Arab listeners on the Israel Arab-language radio. The broadcasts have pointed out that Israel has always favored Arab liberation movements, as well as genuine unification moves, so that the Arab nations could establish a true independence and freedom from foreign pressures.

Declaring that Israel’s specific attitude will be determined by the actions of the leaders of the new federations, the broadcasts, stated that Israel would welcome the unions if their rulers use the opportunity to raise the Arab people’s standards of living and improve the health, education and economies of the federated states.

Some broadcasts have expressed the cautious hope that the Arab leaders in working for the real interests of their peoples, might be wise enough to make a genuine attempt at a peaceful settlement of the Israel-Arab dispute for the benefit of Jews and Arabs alike. The broadcasts have also emphasized that if the new Arab rulers try to utilize the merged states for aggression, Israel would have to take an entirely different position.

(From Paris it was reported today that Israel Foreign Minister Golda Meir is expected to arrive there from Israel Sunday night for a meeting on Monday with French Foreign Minister Christian Pineau. Afterwards, Mrs. Meir will visit a number of African countries. Meanwhile, the Israel Ambassador to Paris, Yacov Tsur, called at the French Foreign Office today to convey Israel’s view of the recent mergers of Syria and Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. He also received the French feeling about the federations.)