Israel’s views on direct peace negotiations with the Arab countries will be made known today at the U.N. Special Committee by Ambassador Abba Eban, chief of the Israel delegation. It is understood that he has been instructed by the Tel Aviv Government to accept the proposal for direct Arab-Israel peace talks presented to the United Nations last week by six nations.
The United States delegation yesterday indicated its support of the idea of direct negotiations between Israel and the Arab states to settle outstanding problems between them, although Dr. Philip C. Jessup, the American delegate at the Special Political Committee, reserved the right to speak specifically on the six-nation resolution, calling for direct peace negotiations, until after the other delegations had spoken.
Dr. Jessup outlined the activities of the Palestine Conciliation Commission, drawing from them the lesson that little could be accomplished without direct negotiations. He paid tribute to the Israel Government’s agreement to release $14,000,000 in blocked funds to the Arab refugees, declaring that this could not be regarded as “inconsequential.” He asserted that neither side had called on the Conciliation Commission during the past year, although its services were available.
Lebanese delegate Fouad Ammoun told the committee that his government was willing to cooperate for a peaceful settlement of Arab-Israel problems, but stressed that the basis on which peace was to be established and the goal to be achieved had to be decided upon beforehand. He then proceeded to attack the Jewish State, the manner of its establishment and its record in the U.N. sponsored negotiations with the Arab States.
After the committee session yesterday, an Israel delegation spokesman said his government was willing to negotiate directly, but without prior commitments. “We are willing also to receive and comment on any proposals, old or new, which they wish to make with a view to developing those agreements into peace agreements, “the spokesman added. “We would also be free to make our proposals. We would not require the other parties to accept any prior conditions.”
At the session, Prof. Enrique Rodriguez Fabregat of Uruguay, one of the sponsors of the resolution, spoke in its support, as did Dr. Jorge Fidel Duron of Honduras. The chairman of the committee announced that he had been informed that Cuba was joining with Uruguay. Norway, the Netherlands. Canada, Denmark and Ecuador in sponsoring the proposal for direct peace talks.
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