Jordan’s King Hussein, in his talks yesterday with President Nixon, Dr. Henry Kissinger and Secretary of State William P. Rogers, indicated no change in his attitude towards a diplomatic settlement with Israel, diplomatic sources here said today. These sources concluded that Hussein reiterated his position for a re-division of Jerusalem and Israel’s withdrawal virtually to the lines that existed prior to the Six-Day War, and also for. Jordan to take possession of the Gaza Strip.
Reiterating an assessment of Jordan’s views attributed to Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban, one diplomatic source summarized Hussein’s position in this way: “After all that has happened, King Hussein wants not-100 percent of his territory back, but 120 percent.” Hussein was regarded by diplomats as appealing for sympathy from the American public by asserting that he wants peace, that war will not help the Arab countries against Israel. The King is the only Arab leader thus far to recognize that Israel is here to stay but wants it within the pre-1967 war lines.
Hussein will undoubtedly receive economic and military aid from the United States, perhaps even more than in past years, the sources said. The U.S. has indicated no readiness for any new initiatives, these sources stated, pointing out that Rogers, in his speech in New York two weeks ago, had reiterated that discussions for an interim agreement were the best first step toward an overall settlement.
A realistic analysis of the present situation, a source said, was that unless Egypt moves into “close proximity” talks towards reopening the Suez Canal, nothing can be advanced in the area for the foreseeable future.
Concerning Israeli Premier Golda Meir’s meeting with Nixon at the White House March 1, a top Middle East authority said that this meeting was not one designed to alter trends or policies agreed to by the U.S. and Israel. This authority cautioned against expectations that new initiatives will emerge from that meeting. Basically, he observed, it will be a review of present circumstances and a discussion of future possibilities.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
