The United Nations Palestine Conciliation Commission will resume conferences with the Arab states and Israel this Saturday morning in a new attempt to bring about an agreement on the question of the borders of the state of Israel, it was learned here today. The decision to resume the parley was taken at a Commission meeting in New York last night.
The commission members–representatives of the United States, France and Turkey–will meet with representatives of Egypt, Transjordan, Syria and Lebanon at 10 A.M. At about 11:30 A.M. they will meet separately with the Israelis. Although the subject under discussion is the border issue, it is considered likely that other aspects of the Palestine problem, such as the Arab refugee issue and the internationalization of Jerusalem, may also be raised.
Neither the Arab refugee problem nor the future status of Jerusalem will be soon or easily settled, according to a top Arab delegate here, who said that the majority of Arab states opposed a settlement of either issue since this would be tantamount to certifying the establishment of Israel. Discussing the Palestine problems soon to be aired by the United Nations Political considerations were of high importance in the refugee questions. He said that even though Syria had more than enough room and opportunity for the 150,000 Arab refugees displaced by the war in Palestine, Syria and other Arab states were faced with the political aspect of the problem.
Regarding Jerusalem, the Syrian leader contended that a withdrawal of troops from the area, as called for in the report of the U.N. Conciliation Commission for Palestine, would amount to indirect recognition of the Jewish “occupation” and would leave all of Palestine open to the Jewish “aggressor.” He also expressed opposition to any internationalization project for Jerusalem, even of the Holy Places, pointing out that the religious shrines were concentrated in the Old City and in Bethlehem, which were the parts occupied by Transjordan military forces.
In the vote in the General Assembly today, Israel is believed to have cast its ballot for Czechoslovakia, the Soviet choice, as the East European member of the Security Council to succeed the Ukraine, Yugoslavia, backed by the United states, was elected. Israel is also understood to have voted for India and Equador, which were elected.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
