Premier Yitzhak Rabin told the Knesset today that yesterday’s three UN resolutions were initiated by the Arab states as part of a plan aiming at the eventual replacement of Israel by an “Arafat State.”
“Their aim is to ostracize Israel…to negate Israel in order to prepare the political conditions required for the intensification of their struggle against the very existence of Israel as an independent state…to prepare the ground for the estab- lishment of an Arafat State instead of Israel and upon her ruins.”
Rabin spoke at the start of a special debate on the resolutions. Government and opposition whips quickly got together to draft a joint resolution which they hoped would gain the support of all factions, barring the New Communists (Rakah) and, possibly the Orthodox Agudat Israel which has ideological difficulties accepting Zionism as Jewry’s liberation movement.
Rabin repeated his statement of yesterday that Israel would never sit with the PLO and would have no truck with the committee set up by the Assembly to ensure implementation of the Palestinians’ rights.
SPARING IN CRITICISM OF EGYPT
He gave no hint, however, of any action that Israel might take in-the wake of the three resolutions which, he said, should be viewed as one entity. There were no implied threats to retaliate against the UN presence or participation in Mideast politics and peacemaking, or of intentions to leave any of the UN’s subsidiary organizations.
Rabin was sparing, too, in his references to Egypt’s role at the UN. The “content and timing of the resolutions,” he said, “contradict the positive trend of events that was implicit in the Israel-Egypt interim agreement….But peace can only be achieved through respect of Israel’s rights, existence, aims and security. We shall continue to pursue this course, despite bitter disappointments, despite selfish appeasement of the oil-rich…”
URGES JEWS TO STAND FIRM
The Premier called on world Jewry to “stand up against the plot being woven against us–as Zionism, Judaism, the State of Israel and the Jewish people are one and the same thing.” The Jewish faith was imbued with the idea of the return to Zion, Rabin said, and this ideal had always unified the nation. “I call upon the Jewish communities in the diaspora to work with greater effort and energy and devotion to ensure the safety and security of Israel and the Jewish people.”
JOINT COMMISSION MEETS
Meanwhile, the Israel-Egypt Joint Commission met at Balusa in the Sinai again today for its second meeting to discuss aspects of the disengagement agreement. Only military personnel took part. But officials here said Israel would insist on civilian participation at the third meeting, the date of which is still to be announced. The agreement is being implemented according to schedule with Egyptian nationals due at the Ras Sudar fields this weekend.
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