A seven-nation draft resolution was introduced today at the Security Council on the Middle East containing elements to which the United States and Israel registered objections. After introduction of the draft, the Council adjourned until tomorrow when a vote will be taken on the proposal.
The draft expressed “regrets” that Secretary General Kurt Waldheim. and his special representative. Ambassador Gunnar V. Jarring, had been “unable to report any significant progress” in carrying out the terms of Resolution 242. The draft also “strongly deplores” Israel’s continued occupation of the Arab territories seized in the Six-Day War. The draft criticized Israel’s “lack. of cooperation” with Waldheim and Dr Jarring and supported Dr. Jarring’s action in Feb., 1961, when he proposed that Egypt commit itself to a peace settlement with Israel and that Israel agree to complete withdrawal from the administered areas. That effort ended Dr. Jarring’s renewed efforts for a Mideast settlement.
The draft also cited “respect” for the “rights and legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians” as one of the essential conditions for a peaceful settlement. Other elements listed were respect for “national sovereignty, territorial integrity (and) the rights of all states in the area.” The resolution also opposed changes in the administered territories “which may obstruct a peaceful and final settlement or which may adversely affect the political and other fundamental rights of all the inhabitants.”
U.S. FINDS ELEMENTS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT
John Scali, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, said, after the session adjourned, that there were “some elements” in the draft resolution that were “very difficult” for the United States to accept. He made the comment outside the Council chambers, as he did last Friday in warning that Egyptian and Soviet statements for a “one-sided” resolution would lead to a U.S. veto.
An American source at the UN said the United States objected to “the general tenor” of the draft which the source said represented a shift away from Resolution 242. The U.S. particularly objected to the inclusion of the reference to the rights of the Palestinians.
Mohammed el-Zayyat, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, had urged inclusion in the draft of a statement opposing Israel’s occupation and supporting the principle of total Israeli withdrawal. Though Egypt failed in that effort. Egyptian sources here said Egypt was satisfied with the draft, which was submitted by. Guinea, India, Indonesia, Panama, Peru, Sudan and Yugoslavia.
Observers here said the U.S. was expected to veto the draft but did not rule out the possibility that the U.S. would abstain. The Egyptian goal now is to obtain 14 supporting votes of the 15 Council members in order to isolate the U.S. A U.S. veto would demonstrate, according to the Egyptians, the “collusion” between the United States and Israel.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency was told there were 12 Council members favoring adoption of the resolution, and Australia, Austria and the U.S. undecided. A French diplomat here said the French believe the U.S. will abstain in the scheduled vote tomorrow.
TEKOAH: DEBATE FOSTERING CONFRONTATION
Yosef Tekoah, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, said today during the debate that it was fostering “continued confrontation with Israel, not accommodation.” He termed the draft “an act of political hostility which disregards fact and law and maligns Israel only to please Egypt.” He declared there was no mention in the draft of the need for agreement between the Mideast parties concerned.
Tekoah contended also that the draft resolution, with its reference to Palestinian rights, would have the effect of giving aid and encouragement to “hijackers and murderers.” He said it would mean the end of Resolution 242 as a basis for a peaceful solution to the Mideast problem and “end the role of the United Nations” in the area.
He declared that support for Egypt in the Security Council would be support for “the war-like views and similar designs” of Egypt. If Egypt was seeking peace, Tekoah added, it would find it, not in the Security Council, but in the Middle East and in negotiations with Israel.
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