The Arab states have rejected Count Folke Bernadotte’s proposals for peace in Palestine, it was announced here today by Transjordan’s Premier, Tewfik Abu Huda Pasha. The reason he gave for the rejection by Arab leaders who have been meeting here for several days is that the Arab states “cannot accept the existence of a Jewish state.”
The local newspaper Al Misri today revealed a ten-point program which it asserts Bernadotte proposed to the Jews and the Arabs. The proposals, according to Al Misri are:
1. A reunion of Transjordan and Palestine as comprised in the original British Mandate.
2. This mandate area to be divided into two independent states, one Jewish one Arab.
3. The Jewish state would have all the lands granted to it by the United Nations except the Negev desert which would be given to the Arabs. In compensation, the Jews would get the whole of Galilee–the area from Acre to the Syrian-Lebanese borders.
4. The Arab state would include the Arab sections of Palestine and Transjordan.
5. Haifa would be a free port. Jaffa’s future would be discussed later.
6. Jerusalem would have a special government under the United Nations to ensure the safety of the Holy Places.
7. The Jewish and Arab states would form a central committee to arbitrate any differences between them.
8. This committee would also coordinate the foreign, defense and economic policy of the two states.
9. If this committee was unable to settle differences between the two states, it should refer the matter to the United Nations Trusteeship Council.
10. Immigration–the Jewish state would have the right of immigration. This, however, must depend on the economic absorption of the land.
Composition of the central Arab-Jewish committee and other matters would be examined in detail after acceptance of the proposals by both sides, the Egyptian newspaper asserted.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
