The failure of the Arab states in their attempts in recent months to oppose Israel on the diplomatic and political fronts was emphasized here today in an article in the authoritative French publication “Le Monde Diplomatique” which reviewed Arab activities in this field.
The article cited the refusal by delegates to the recent African conference to pass an anti-Israel resolution in spite of tireless efforts by Egyptian President Nasser, Algerian President Ben-Bella and Tunisian President Bourguiba.
Another step inspired by the same three leaders, the article noted, has brought results completely contrary to those aimed at. The Arab appeal to the Vatican not to present at the next session of the Ecumenical Council, Cardinal Bea’s statement on Catholic-Jewish relations, has mainly indisposed the highest circles in the Vatican hierarchy.
Even the efforts by the Arab states to set up a Palestinian “personality” by means of a “National Congress,” have dismally failed, the article declares, adding that most Arab states and organizations only paid lip service to the idea but failed to support it.
Arab plans to use methods of coercion against the states which maintain friendly relations with Israel also seem doomed to complete failure, the review stressed. “How can the Arabs decide who is a friend and who is not?” the article asks. It noted that to act on the basis of recognition would mean halting their own friendly relations with the Soviet Union while to decide on the basis of economic help would mean breaking off relations with West Germany, one of the Arabs’ best sources of supply.
The article concludes by predicting that the Arab chiefs of state are due for an extensive “soul searching” during their forthcoming conference to be held in Alexandria.
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.
