Israel and Israel-Arab relations will figure sizably, at times vitriolically, during tenth session of the United Nations General Assembly which opens here tomorrow.
It is fully expected that to compensate for their position of isolation in a world whose leadership is talking of peace and negotiation, the Arab delegations here will probably attack Israel bitterly all along the line. It is felt certain that from the very opening of the general debate, during which delegation chairmen customarily speak a bout the general policies of their governments, through detailed debates in every one of the General Assembly committees the Arabs will voice opposition to Israel.
Aside from an item on the agenda which Israel has itself introduced, dealing with protection of civilian aircraft inadvertently crossing international frontiers. one of the major agenda items affecting Israel–and opening possibilities for the Arabs to attack it–will be the report of the UN Relief and Works Agency for the Arab refugees from Palestine, and the separate report of UNRWA’s Advisory Committee. The Arab bloc here is expected to ask increased UNRWA funds for the refugee relief. UNRWA’s first budget, several years ago, was $18,000,000; the fund rose to $25,700,000 last year; and the Arab states will probably ask for an increase to $35,000,000 this year.
DULLES’ PROPOSAL FOR INTERNATIONAL LOAN TO ISRAEL MAY BE DISCUSSED
In connection with UNRWA discussions, there is the likelihood that the plan proposed recently by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, for a large international loan to Israel with which the Jewish State could compensate the Arab refugees, may come up here Israel has already accepted the plan “in principle.” However, no detailed blueprint for operation of the plan has as yet been made public by Mr. Dulles.
The Arab states may bring up two new points affecting Israel. One may be a suggestion that the United Nations form a new inquiry commission, comprised of all former presidents of the General Assembly, to probe into the entire Israel-Arab situation, The other would be a proposal that membership of the Palestine Conciliation Commission be increased with more pro-Arab representatives, and that the PCC be ordered to really get to work.
SECURITY COUNCIL REPORTS TO ASSEMBLY ON ARAB-ISRAEL ISSUES
In connection with tomorrow’s opening of the Assembly’s session, the Security Council today made public its report to the Assembly which shows that the “Palestine Question” dominated the Council’s activities for the entire year. The report shows that in the last years the Security Council met 22 times, devoting most of its substantive sessions, a total of 14, to “The Palestine Question.”
The two issues that took up most of the Council’s time on the Israel-Arab front during the period concerned Egypt’s seizure of the Israel freighter “Bat Galim” on Sept. 28, 1954, and Israel’s attack on Gaza on Feb. 28, 1955. It was following that attack that the Council, after censuring Israel, called on Maj. Gen. E.L.M. Burns to try to get Egypt and Israel together for pacification of the Gaza strip frontier.
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