Israel would welcome an exchange of Arab refugees for Jews living in Arab countries, Moshe Sharett, Foreign Minister of Israel, said today at a press conference at the Israeli embassy here.
Earlier in the day, Sharett conferred briefly with Secretary of State Dean ##heson. They will meet again on Monday or Tuesday at which time they will discuss the problem of peace in the Middle East and American-Israeli relations.He said at the press conference, in answer to a pointed question about Arab refugees being repatriated to Israel, “if you cannot make a homogeneous community, why try to swim against the stream?” The plight of Arab refugees is entirely the ?ault of the Arab aggressors, he said, adding that there were not 750,000 as generally reported but closer to 500,000.
Sharett made it known that Israel has developed far differently than if there had been no war and exodus of Arabs. Their integration now in the communities of Israel would be “very complicated.” He said that Israel has no intention of giving up any territory assigned it by the U.N. partition decision. This statement was in answer to a question concerning the Israeli occupation of the Elath coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. He said that the Elath strip was always considered an integral part of Israel.
Sharett insisted that Israel will exercise full sovereignty in the Jewish portions of Jerusalem. He said that there was some possibility that parts of the Old City would have to be divided into three zones–Christian, Moslem, and Jewish.
The Israeli Foreign Minister told newsmen of the vast expanses of undeveloped territory in Arab states which could be settled with great benefit to Arabs, in response to repeated questions about the fate of Arab refugees. He said that Israel will pay for Arab-owned deserted lands in Israel.
The action of Trans Jordan in setting up a civil administration in parts of Palestine was called by Sharett a “unilateral action.” He said, “I do not think that transjordan should get this reward for its revolting bombardment of the Holy City.”
He reported that negotiations have not yet begun on the frozen Israeli assets held by England, nor on claims or counter claims. The total amount hold was stated to be somewhat less than $320,000,000.
He refused to comment on the possible participation of Israel in a proposed Mediterranean pact. He did emphasize that Israeli foreign policy visualizes alliances within the framework of the U.N. so long as those alliances are not directed against another U.N. member.
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