Sharp Exchange Between Israel and Iraq Delegates is Checked at UNESCO Parley

An animated exchange of unpleasant remarks between Iraqi and Israel delegates was checked at today’s session of the United Nations Economic and Social Conferance (UNESCO) here by the chairman following a report from Zalman Shazar, Israel’s Minister of Education, which was read in his absence by Shlomo Ginossar, Israel delegate.

The Israel Minister said that despite moments of disappointment with the United Nations, Israel puts its faith in the U.N. and wants to work with and for the UNESCO. He dwelt at great length on educational activities in Israel but emphasized that these activities are handicapped by the fact that no peace has as yet been concluded between the Arab nations and the Jewish state.

Stressing that Israel deeply desires peace with her Arab neighbors, Mr. Shazar cited the recent appeal for Arab-Jewish friendship voiced by President Chaim Weizmann at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Hebrew University, whereupon the Iraqi delegate–Mohammed Fadhil Jamali–on a point of order read a press report stating that Israel attacked an Arab village near Hebron. “Was this the kind of peace referred to in the speech of the Israel delegate?” he asked.

The Iraq delegate vehemently declared that the people in his country lost faith in all international organizations, including the UNESCO, and that one of the main reasons for this attitude was the adoption by the United Nations of the Palestine partition decision.

The Egyptian delegate tried to pacify the Iraqi representative, while the Israel delegate declared that he is not in possession of sufficient information on the incident to which the delegate of Iraq referred, and that the matter would in any case come before the U.N. Palestine Conciliation Commission.