The already revised resolution of the eight neutral powers calling for direct negotiations between Israel and the Arab states for a Palestine peace settlement was again revised today in the United Nations Special Political Committee. At the same time, the Arab states which yesterday indicated a desire to kill the entire Palestine debate by withdrawing their item from the U. N. agenda, appeared today to have given up this project without a formal battle.
David Johnson of Canada announced the latest revision to meet the objections raised by the Mexican delegate yesterday, who asked for a resolution which could be accepted by both parties to the dispute. Mr. Johnson said that the operative paragraph calling for direct negotiations would include the phrase “bearing in mind the resolutions” as well as “the principal objectives” of the United Nations on the Palestine question, including the religious interests of third parties.
The Arabs immediately announced that they were opposed to the resolution which had been revised once again in an attempt to meet their demands. The Yemenite delegate said that the eight-power resolution instead of bringing peace in Palestine would “aggravate the already serious situation in the Middle East.” He also described the resolution as “unfair, unrealistic and impractical.” The Lebanese delegate warned of the “disastrous” effect the resolution might have He announced he would vote against it.
Dr. Fadhil el Jamali of Iraq was “violently opposed” to the resolution. He said it displayed “new trends in power politics and Zionist machinations.”
It is understood here that the Israeli delegation will support this latest revision of the eight power appeal. So far Israel has supported the originally eight power resolution and the earlier revision, although it has pointed out that the fewer the encumbrances the better the chances for success of peace negotations.
In the Political Committee of the Assembly today, Israel abstained on a resolution asking the Bey of Tunis to send a representative to the committee to participate in a discussion of the Tunisian issue. The motion was defeated. Israel voted against a second resolution to censure France for boycotting the Tunisian debate. This resolution also lost.
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