U.S. Offers Resolution Extending Life of UN Arab Refugee Agency for 3 Years

A United States draft resolution calling for extension of the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees for three years was circulated here today. The document was under study in the Special Political Committee which is considering UNRWA’s General Assembly mandate, due to expire June 30, 1969, and the agency’s financial problems. The committee’s debate is based on the annual report of Commissioner-General Laurence Michelmore.

“The continuing critical financial position” of UNRWA is a focal point of the U.S. resolution which notes that despite Mr. Michelmore’s efforts to collect additional funds to help relieve the serious budget deficit of the past year, contributions to UNRWA still fall short of funds needed to cover essential budget requirements.

The proposed resolution would have the Assembly urgently request increased and generous contributions. It would also note “with deep regret” that repatriation or compensation of the refugees. as originally urged in a 1948 resolution dealing with the refugee problem, has not been effected. It would also express regret that no substantial progress has been made in reintegrating, repatriating or resettling the refugees. Under the measure’s terms, Mr. Michelmore would be directed “to continue his efforts in taking such measures, including rectification of the relief rolls, as to assure, in cooperation with the Governments concerned, the most equitable distribution of relief based on need.”

UNRWA’s problems have multiplied since the Six-Day War of June, 1967 and the ensuing flight of UNRWA-registered refugees of the 1948 Arab-Israel war and newly-displaced persons from Israel occupied territories. The agency, set up in 1950 to care for refugees of the 1948 hostilities, faces a $3.2 million deficit in 1968 and a $5 million one next year.

In another UN unit, the Legal Committee, which is now concerned with the question of defining aggression, Israel exchanged charges with Syria and Egypt yesterday. Adnan Nachabe of Syria accused Israel of aggression against Arab countries, but Reuven Nail of Israel said it had acted in self-defense after Arab leaders pronounced, in the press and on radio broadcasts, their intention to annihilate Israel. For this purpose, Mr. Nail said, they had moved “tremendous forces” to Israel’s frontiers and had undertaken other hostile acts. Replying, Mr. Nachabe said Israel was the attacker and had unleased the June, 1967 war.

The representative of Egypt on the committee, El Sayed Abdel Raouf El Reedy, accused Israel of violating “contractual obligations” as well as its responsibilities as a UN member. He cited the occupation of Arab territories, said Israel had annexed the Old City of Jerusalem and had failed to comply with numerous resolutions of UN bodies dealing with the Middle East. He said Egypt had repeatedly expressed readiness to accept the Nov. 22, 1967 Security Council resolution on Middle East peace and charged that Israel had not indicated whether it would comply with its provisions or when it would withdraw its troops from the territories.