The National Lutheran Council has urged the United Nations General Assembly to take the initiative in re-opening direct peace talks between Israel and the Arab states. The appeal was made in a resolution adopted unanimously at yesterday’s meeting here of the council, which represents nine church bodies with a total membership of 4,500,000.
The resolution, which will be presented to the State Department, asks the General Assembly to issue a “new appeal” to the Israelis and the Arabs for “direct conversations” on a peace settlement. The Lutheran statement stresses that “no peace can be found apart from such direct conversations.” The council also urged the parties to meet with the Palestine Conciliation Commission or some other “specially designated mediator.”
The action followed a statement by the Rev. Dr. Fredrik A. Schiotz, world missions secretary of the Lutheran organization, who told the delegates that the Christian church must use every “legitimate” means at its disposal to help the Arabs and the Israelis find a peaceful way out of their current impasse.
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