Hussein: Israel Has Right to Exist; Denies Meeting with Allon, Other Israelis

King Hussein of Jordan will urge American Jews tomorrow night to “use whatever influence they can” to help achieve a lasting Middle East peace and to “prevent suffering occurring to others.” In an interview taped here last week and scheduled for telecasting on tomorrow’s nationally syndicated David Frost show, the Hashemite monarch was given the opportunity to address American Jews directly. Noting that “we belong originally to the same race” and that the Jews are “a people who have suffered and suffered greatly,” he called on them to recognize the woes of “others” because “Two wrongs can’t make a right.” He appeared to be alluding to the predicament of the Palestinian refugees. If American Jews were to use their influence toward attaining “moderation, reason and logic,” King Hussein said, “maybe a way can be found…to establish a just and durable peace in our part of the world, that the future generations live in peace and enjoy the chance to divert all their energies and all their resources to build and attain a happier, brighter future.”

He concluded by saying, “This is my plea.” At another point in the nearly-one-hour interview. King Hussein asserted that “When we accepted Security Council Resolution 242…we were–and still are–prepared to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and equally so her right to live in peace and in security.” But the Jordanian leader added that Israel’s continued occupation of the Arab areas captured in 1967 “has caused more damage to the possibilities of the prospects of arriving at a solution…than it has done good.” On the matter of Jerusalem, the King asserted that “our rights must be recognized, and we must do all we can to safeguard the holy places and insure that they are accessible to all believers.” He dismissed as a “really fantastic story” the report that he had met secretly with Deputy Premier Yigal Allon and other Israeli leaders.