Israeli Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir declared today that the Iraqi-Iranian war “demolishes” the belief “that the world’s oil supply is dependent on a pro-Arab solution” to the Arab-Israeli conflict. “It is all too clear that the solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict will not provide any miracle for the region as a whole or eliminate the many other grove conflicts raging in it, ” Shamir said in on address this afternoon to the 35th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Shamir also warned that the Iraqi-Iranian war has for reaching implications for peace in the Middle East and the world at large. “This war between two states ruled by extremist, irresponsible, trigger-happy regimes threatens, both regional and international security by putting of risk much of the world’s regular supply of bit, “he said.
His remarks on the war in the Persian Gulf area were part of a 14-page speech outlining Israel’s foreign policy principles and views. His speech included references to the following matters:
Autonomy for the Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza Strip: Shamir expressed, hope that the autonomy talks will be resumed “in the near future.” He said that Israel also hopes that the process of normalization with Egypt “will be intensified and will serve as the best possible proof as a living symbol of the fact that peace can and must take the place of war.”
The Israeli Foreign Minister called on all nations that genuinely seek peace to encourage the progress which has been achieved through the Camp David process. “Let them also bear in mind and give due regard to the fact that by proposing the idea of autonomy in Judaea, Samaria and the Gaza district, Israel has taken on itself great risks for the sake of peace,” Shamir said.
SURVEY OF OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
The Palestine Liberation Organization: Shamir stated that “Anyone who is familiar with are ideology and the terminology of the murder organization which calls itself the PLO as well as the declarations of the various Arab rejectionist states, can see beyond all doubt that the term self-determination as they use it is nothing more than a euphemism for the destruction of Israel.”
He contended that the Palestinian Arabs have achieved their self-determination in Jordan, “a state which is the Arab state in Palestine by virtue of its history, territory, population, culture and all aspects of its national life.
Jerusalem: Shamir observed that “for the last 150 years there has been a Jewish majority in Jerusalem. Whoever seeks to sever Jerusalem from Israel seeks to decapitate the Jewish people, ” he said. “We hope that nations that seek peace and know the reality which prevails in Jerusalem today will respect the city as the sovereign capital of Israel, the city which will not be divided again, in the same way as Israel respects the holy places of all religions and their freedom in the city.”
The arms race: Shamir charged that the quantity of arms and orders for arms by the Arab countries “have reached astronomical sums.” He said there was no precedent “for the amassing of arms on this scale in our region. ” He warned that “these arms are designated first and foremost for use against Israel” and called on the UN to urge the Arab states to decrease their armaments. He said Israel is prepared to join efforts to bring about the limitation of arms in the Middle East.
Nuclear weapons: Shamir reiterated Israel’s proposal for an international conference of all states in the Middle East and adjacent to it to reach a “formal, contractual, multi-lateral convention between oil states of the region” on nuclear arms. He also reiterated the Israel government’s position “that Israel will not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons into the Arab-Israeli dispute.”
The situation of Jewish communities around the world: Shamir drew attention to the worsening situation of Jews in the Soviet Union, Syria and Iran. He charged that in the past year, harsher measures have been imposed on Jews who seek to leave the Soviet Union and appealed to the Soviet government “to remove the restrictions and facilitate the immigration of Jews to Israel. “
ANXIETY ABOUT JEWS IN SYRIA, IRAN
Shamir expressed anxiety over the condition of the “tortured” Jewish community in Syria. He said that human rights for Jews in that country are severely curtailed and many Jews “have been imprisoned and their property impounded.” He charged that Syria holds its Jews hostage by preventing them from leaving the country.
On the situation of Iranian Jews, Shamir declared; “The Jews of Iran have suffered painfully in recent months and their situation is deteriorating from day to day. Many Jews have been thrown into jail; others have been given the death sentence, in most cases on charges of contact with Israel. ” He said Israel is aware of the difficulties of dealing with the present Iranian regime. But he expressed hope that “sight will not be lost of the situation of Jews there who are, perhaps, among the most vulnerable of the minorities in that troubled land.”
Shamir concluded his address by declaring that Israel yearns for peace.” I wish to call on the Arab states which are our neighbors and also on the Palestinian Arabs living in Judaea, Samaria and the Gaze district to follow the dictates of reason and to join the peace process, ” he said. “I wish to call on the other nations of the world to support this course and to prevail upon the Arab states to adopt it. The world at forge and not merely our region alone would benefit from this.
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.
