A suggestion that a country “friendly” to both Israel and the Arab states should offer its services as a mediator to try to bring the Arab-Israel conflict to a peaceful settlement was made at a press conference here yesterday by Prime Minister Mohammed Ali of Pakistan, who is now visiting the United States. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, Muhammad Zafrullah Khan later elaborated on this suggestion by indicating that the United States could be the mediating “friendly” country.
The Pakistani Prime Minister said that he supports the Arab demands that Israel give up some territory and settle the problem of the Arab refugees. He also declared that Israel must return to the boundaries set in a 1947 UN resolution and thus remove the Arab fears of “Zionist expansion.”
Israeli circles commenting on the Pakistani suggestion said that Israel would welcome mediation from any quarter. However, they emphasized that Israel would not give up any of its territory as the price for negotiation.
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