The Foreign Minister of Tunisia declared here yesterday that a Middle East settlement could be achieved only between the Israelis and Palestinians and that the interference of outsiders was in itself a cause of the conflict. Habib Bourguiba, Jr., son of the President of Tunisia, said the Arab countries would never be able to eliminate Israel and will have to co-exist with it. He said Palestinian commandos might step up their guerrilla activities against Israel but would never be able to join the Israel Army in classic battle, and if they did they would be defeated. Bourguiba spoke on Middle East peace prospects at a conference of Catholics here. His remarks came close to endorsing Israel’s repeated insistence that direct negotiations are the only way to peace.
He appeared however to exclude the Arab states from a role in such negotiations. Mr. Bourguiba said that whatever the ultimate settlement is — a multi-racial state, a multi-national state, a federation or confederation — the only way to reach it is between the parties concerned, the Israelis and the Palestinians.
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