The establishment of direct contact between the representatives of Israel and the Arab states is “indispensable” if the U.N. Conciliation Commission on Palestine is to continue to modiate effectively between them, a Commission communique said today.
The communique was issued this afternoon after the members of the three-nation body had had their first formal meeting with Arab and Israel delegates since reopening of the latest series of sessions. The statement also revealed that the Commission has not yet determined its attitude toward an Arab request that the body prepare a plan on which to base its mediation efforts.
Gideon Raphael, Israel representative to the mediation sessions, expressed his government’s desire to cooperate with the Conciliation Commission, but stressed that in that event the “era of shadow boxing” must end. For Israel, the test of Arab sincerity is Arab preparedness to enter into direct negotiations, he said, adding that Israel is opposed to mediation by the Commission as a substitute for direct negotiations.
Mr. Raphael also said that it was the view of his government that a protocol signed by Israel and the Arab states before the Commission at Lausanne last May 12 is no longer of practical value. (The details of the document were never made public.)
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