Pressure on Eec to Extend Recognition to the PLO

When the Foreign Ministers of the European Economic Community (EEC) meet in Dublin tomorrow they will be under heavy pressure to extend political recognition to the Palestine. Liberation Organization as a rightful partner in Middle East peace talks.

But despite a pro-PLO shift by the British government, Israeli diplomats think there is a chance that the move will be defeated because of the opposition of West Germany and Holland. Israeli optimism about the attitudes of West Germany grew here today following the talks in Bonn between Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan and his West German counterpart, Hans-Dietrich Genscher.

There have also been talks in Dublin between Israeli diplomats and Irish ministers, including Foreign Minister Michael O’Kennedy who is presiding at tomorrow’s gathering of the nine EEC Ministers. Relations between the two countries have been exacerbated by Israeli military action in south Lebanon where 700 Irish troops serve with the United Nations force.

Last week, O’Kennedy told Israeli Charge d’Affaires Yoav Biran of his “grave concern” over Israeli policy in Lebanon. He asked Israel to restrain the Christian forces led by Maj. Saad Haddad from encroaching on land controlled by the Irish troops. On the same day, a similar attack on Israel was made at the United Nations by Irish representative Paul Keating.

The Israeli Embassy in London, which handles relations with Ireland, was so concerned by the mood in Dublin that it asked the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem for additional help in putting the Israeli case before the Irish government and public. Tomorrow, Eitan Ron, Deputy Director General in charge of United Nations Affairs and a senior officer of the Israeli army’s northern command, will begin a two-day visit to Dublin to meet officials and journalists.