Reports of possible progress in Middle East peace moves involving Israel. Jordan and Egypt at the United Nations generated repercussions among Israel’s political parties and led to a clarification of an earlier report that Prime Minister Eshkol planned to reply in the Knesset to a speech by Defense Minister Moshe Dayan which expressed deep skepticism about prospects for a Middle East peace.
Gen. Dayan addressing the National Union of Israeli students last Tuesday, said Israel should consider annexing the occupied Arab territories, prepare for a renewed onslaught by Arab countries massively rearmed by the Soviet Union, and seek to come closer to the Arab populations in the occupied sectors. It had been reported that Mr. Eshkol would reply in the Knesset on Monday but it was learned that he would not offer any peace prospects evaluation and that his policy statement originally scheduled for Monday had been postponed until after Mr. Eban returned.
Several ministers had pressed Mr. Eshkol to dissociate himself publicly from Gen. Dayan’s address. Some political parties, particularly the Free Center, have decided to seek a vote of non-confidence in the Government when the Knesset reconvenes next week after the summer recess.
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