The Arab states attacked the Palestine Conciliation Commission as the Palestine debate opened in the United Nations Special Political Committee today.
Egyptian delegate Abdul Monem Mustafa claimed that the Conciliation Commission has “espoused the cause of Israel.” He said that it sought shelter behind “the realities of the situation in Palestine” and thus was attempting to justify a fait accompli.
“Whenever the interests of Israel are at stake, “Abdul Mustafa said, “the Commission forges ahead and is able to find United Nations resolutions to help it do so. Whenever the interests of the Arab states are at stake, the Commission tries to belittle and water down the resolutions which refer to them.”
The Egyptian delegate asserted that full compensation payments should be made to the Palestine refugees and that these payments should not be held up because of the financial position of Israel. If these payments could not be made by Israel, he declared, the U.N. should make them.
Dr. Fadil el Jamali of Iraq asked that Dr. Izzat Tannous, “representative of the Palestine refugees,” be invited to speak. The British representative opposed this. Ambassador Abba Eban, Israel delegate, said that the Israeli delegation would have “serious objections” to such an invitation. He pointed out that there had been no official request and no credentials offered. The Arab cause, Mr. Eban said, was adequately represented here. “Six against one” was already an overbalance, he said. The Arab request was rejected by 14-13, with 20 abstentions.
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