Special to the JTA Arabs May Seek Security Council Session to Deal with Israel’s Occupation of Arab

Sources at the United Nations said today they expected the Arabs to ask for a Security Council session to deal with Israel’s occupation of Arab territories, especially East Jerusalem, following the Islamic summit meeting currently being held in Taif, Saudi Arabia, and the meeting of non-aligned foreign ministers in New Delhi scheduled to take place Feb. 13-19.

The sources said the Arabs would probably seek to impose sanctions on Israel to force Israel to abide by previous Security Council resolutions.

Meanwhile, the Israeli officials at the UN voiced criticism and “surprise” over Secretary General Kurt Waldheim’s attendance at the Islamic summit meeting in Saudi Arabia. The officials said that Waldheim, who returned to New York today, should not have attended the summit meeting at which one of the declared purposes was to plan for the destruction of another UN member state, Israel.

According to reports here, Waldheim presented during his stay in Saudi Arabia the UN peace medal to the oil-rich nation’s King Khalid. The Israeli officials expressed further “surprise” at the presentation, noting that Khalid called for a jihad (holy war) against Israel.

In response to a question as to what are the criteria for receiving the UN peace medal, the UN spokesman said the peace medal is given by the Secretary General to heads of state or other persons who contributed to the UN.

A UN spokesman said today that Waldheim regarded his visit to Saudi Arabia as “very useful,” because it provided an excellent opportunity to hold talks on matters of concern to the UN, particularly crisis situations. Meanwhile, Syrian President Hafez Assad, addressing the Islamic summit tonight, called for a struggle against U.S. military bases.