Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Report Israel Finds Egyptian, Jordanian Views on UN Resolution Unsatisfactory

August 22, 1968
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Informed sources said here today that Egyptian and Jordanian views on application of the Nov. 22, 1967 Security Council resolution for Middle East peace, which were conveyed by Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring to Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban, were unsatisfactory to Israel. The United Nations peace emissary came here at noon from his headquarters in Nicosia and spent two hours with Mr. Eban and Foreign Ministry aides. It was indicated another Eban-Jarring meeting will be held soon.

The sources said the current Eban-Jarring talks were concentrating on the meaning of the principal terms used in the Council resolution which mandated Dr. Jarring’s mission, specifically the meaning of “a just and lasting peace.” A Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Mr. Eban reiterated to Dr. Jarring Israel’s readiness to cooperate in achieving a lasting peace based on permanent, secure and agreed boundaries and the complete abandonment of belligerence and all types of warfare. Mr. Eban called to the envoy’s attention the speech of Egyptian President Nasser on July 23 in which the Egyptian leader said there never could be peace between Egypt and Israel. Mr. Eban said that this position reflected the stand of Arab leaders at the Khartoum “summit” meeting last August rejecting negotiations, recognition or peace with Israel which the Foreign Minister called “the main obstacle to peace.”

In a related development, Mr. Eban met with United States Ambassador Walworth Barbour yesterday for talks that diplomatic sources described as a comprehensive exchange of views on the Middle East situation in general and the mission of Dr. Jarring in particular. The sources said that the positions of the U.S. and Israel on the Middle East are still similar and that mutual consultations and understanding continue. They said that press reports of a divergence of opinion between the two countries were unfounded. The sources stressed a passage in the speech of Ambassador George Ball. U.S. chief representative to the UN, at last week’s Security Council meeting which unanimously adopted a resolution condemning Israel for its Aug. 4 air raid on El Fatah bases near the Jordanian village of Salt.

With reference to the Security Council’s Nov. 22, 1967 resolution on the Middle East, these sources pointed out that Mr. Ball said that it did not constitute a series of principles that are self fulfilling but ones that should be implemented through agreement between the interested parties. The statement was taken as supporting Israel’s interpretation that the prerequisite of the November, 1967 resolution is direct peace talks between Israel and the Arab states.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement