Informed sources here said today that Israel may reply here tomorrow to the Egyptian and Jordanian responses to Israel’s peace proposals given to intermediary Gunnar Jarring in Jerusalem two weeks ago. There had been widespread reports that Israeli Ambassador Yosef Tekoah was to meet today with the Swedish diplomat. Jordan’s reply to the Israeli proposals were delivered to Dr. Jarring on Jan. 18 and disclosed here yesterday by Ambassador Mohammed H. el-Farra. Although Israeli spokesmen would not indicate the nature of Tekoah’s planned statement to Dr. Jarring, it appeared from the Jordanian text that Jordan’s stance would not be welcomed by Israel.
The first plank in the Jordanian text demanded “Withdrawal of the Israeli armed forces forces from all occupied territories without exception in conformity with (Security Council) Resolution 242, which emphasized ‘the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war.” But Israelis were quick to point out that the resolution calls for “Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in (the Six-Day War)” — meaning not necessarily all Israeli forces and not necessarily all occupied territories. Jordan also demanded that “Israel should unequivocably repudiate its policy of territorial expansion”; that there should be guaranteed “free access” by all to “the Arab city of Jerusalem,” and that the refugee stalemate could be solved only through “Israel’s respect for the rights of the Palestinian people.” Jordan also called for “the termination of all claims or states of belligerency”; “freedom of navigation in international waterways”; “the territorial inviolability and political independence of every state in the area”; and “adequate” Security Council “arrangements” to “provide security to all states in the area,” possibly including demilitarized zones and a “United Nations observation force in which the permanent members may participate.” In Egypt’s statement to Dr. Jarring last week, Big Four participation in a peacekeeping force was urged specifically.
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