King Hussein of Jordan today proposed a six-point peace program for the Middle East which, he said, had the personal approval of President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt but was contingent upon Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories including East Jerusalem. The plan would give Israel the right to use the Suez Canal for shipping.
The young Hashemite ruler said in a National Press Club speech, “I am speaking for President Nasser as well as for myself.” He expressed faith in the Big Four’s peace efforts on the Mideast and claimed that Israel opposed them because it wanted to retain conquered territory. He warned that “if progress toward a solution is not made within the next very few months,” no outside force would be able to avert an “explosion” in the region. The Jordanian monarch said, however, that he was returning home with “optimism” following his talks with President Richard M. Nixon and other American leaders. He voiced confidence that the U.S. realized the seriousness of the situation and was determined to do what it could to achieve the settlement acceptable to the Arabs. He disclosed that one squadron of F-104 Star-fighter jets would be delivered to Jordan and that another was available on option.
King Hussein said that his peace program was based on the United Nations Security Council’s Nov. 22,1967 resolution and listed its points as: “The end of all belligerency; respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all states in the area; recognition of the right of all to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats and acts of war; guarantees for all of freedom of navigation through the Gulf of Aqaba (Eilat) and the Suez Canal; guarantees of the territorial inviolability of all states in the area through whatever measures necessary, including the establishment of demilitarized zones; acceptance of a just settlement of the refugee problem.”
(State Department officials greeted the peace proposals as very important and worthy of serious Israeli consideration. They noted that King Hussein said that he had President Nasser’s “personal authority to speak to you on his behalf” and that Col. Nasser “does not want war for the sake of war. He, like us, wants nothing more than the restoration of our rights and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the area. The United Arab Republic has accepted the UN resolution and is willing to implement it.” The State Department officials said that the reference to guaranteed freedom of navigation through Suez as well as the Aqaba Gulf was “very interesting.” They sought to portray it as evidence of a major Egyptian concession in return for the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has never been permitted use of the canal.)
The Jordanian ruler said that “in return for these considerations, our sole demand upon Israel is the withdrawal of its armed forces from all territories occupied in the June, 1967 war and the implementation of all other provisions of the Security Council’s resolution.” He said, “Israel may have either peace or territory–but she can never have both.”
King Hussein asserted that one of his aims coincided with those of the Palestinian commando movements–liberation of occupied territories. “Their aim is a settlement by conflict,” the King said, and his aim was for a peaceful settlement. “What we both want,” he added, “is a restoration of our rights. I would never accept a peace that did not fully restore these rights…Any plan for withdrawal must include the Holy City of Jerusalem. We cannot envision any settlement that does not include the return of the Arab part of the city of Jerusalem to us with all of our Holy Places.”
In reply to questions, King Hussein said there was at present no basis for talks with Israel–“the only basis would be Israel’s withdrawal in accordance with the UN resolution.” He said Jordan opposed the assignment of UN truce observers along the Jordan River cease-fire line because it did not want “a line established in the middle of our country.” The King stressed repeatedly the dangers of renewed war which, he warned, “will not limit itself to the area.” He said Israel’s “active defense” actions against Jordan would “inevitably lead to an explosion.”
Referring to the rocket attack by guerrillas on Eilat on Tuesday, King Hussein said it was “resistance to occupation” and made it clear he would not stop the commandos. “It is their land that the Israelis are occupying,” he said, “and if they can’t succeed in regaining their occupied land, then their aim is to exercise their right of active resistance to the forces of occupation.” He said if Israel had withdrawn in compliance with the Security Council’s resolution, the attack on Eilat might not have occurred. His government had sought to maintain calm in the Gulf of Aqaba region, he said, adding that the attack was carried out by “a few individuals” and was halted by regular forces.
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.
