Ussr-egypt Mideast Agreement Demands Israeli Withdrawal As Precondition for Peace

The Soviet Union and Egypt were reported to have signed an agreement today containing a joint demand that Israel withdraw from all occupied Arab territory as an indispensable condition for a political settlement. Tass, the Soviet News Agency, announced signing of the agreement but did not release any details. The agreement was signed at a final top level meeting between Soviet leaders, headed by Premier Alexsei N. Kosygin, and visiting Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. It contained a Soviet commitment to continue “all possible aid” to Egypt, according to informed sources, which also reported that the pact specified the territories to be evacuated–the Sinai peninsula, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and thw Golan Heights. Such an evacuation would return Israel to the pre-Six-Day war boundaries. The Soviet Union and Egypt reportedly agreed to continue their efforts for a political settlement, on the basis of their interpretation of the Security Council Nov. 22, 1967 resolution. Pres. Nasser came to Moscow on June 29 to ask for increased Soviet military aid and for medical treatment. It was his second visit to the Soviet Union this year. The first, in January, was never publicized.

(In New York, the Soviet Mission to the United Nations released today the text of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR which was issued in the Kremlin yesterday warning that “either the military danger in the Middle East grow further – and this might happen if the aggressor (Israel) is not curbed – or the measures must be taken to ensure the political settlement on the basis of the observance of the resolution of the Security Council of November 22, 1967 in its entirety.” Meanwhile, the Supreme Soviet statement observed, Israel has not “fulfilled a single decision of the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly in connection with the Middle East crisis.” It is now particularly clear, the statement continued, “Israel is fighting not for its existence, not for its security but with the purpose of seizing other people’s lands.”

The essence of Israel’s present policy, the statement asserted, is to “block the roads to political settlement in the Middle East, to intensify pressure on the Arab countries for the purpose of consolidating the results of its aggression. But these calculations are groundless,” the statement warned. Any plans to enable Israel to “prolong occupation of the Arab territories and to annex them, the plans that would place the interests of Israel above the interests of other states of the area are doomed to failure.” The statement announced that the deputies of the USSR Supreme Soviet are “convinced that in the conditions when reckless actions of the Israeli leaders create a real threat for international peace and security, not one parliament or member of parliament must remain indifferent.” The Supreme Soviet called on those who “treasure the ideals of peace and freedom” to censure and isolate the aggressor and its patrons to make imperialists give up their adventurist course.” It also registered its “complete” approval of the policy of the Soviet Government in “giving the all round assistance to the Arab States in their courageous struggle against the Israeli aggression, the policy aimed at the achievement of the just peaceful political settlement of the Middle East conflict.”)