Mapam’s Political Committee has demanded an open and clear response by Israel to any genuine or even propaganda peace move by the Arabs. The committee adopted a resolution which said any Israeli rejection of such moves will lead to the suspicion that Israel is trying to avoid a settlement of the Middle East conflict.
Mapam called on the government to begin a world-wide political campaign stressing Israel’s willingness to make territorial compromises in return for secure and recognized borders. The resolution said Israel should announce its readiness to negotiate with any Palestinian factor that will recognize Israel’s right to exist.
Meir Talmi, Mapam’s secretary general, said that Israel may soon face strong political pressure which could be accompanied by threats of war. He said the fact that Israel is militarily strong may not prevent war.
Mapam veteran Mordechai Bentov said that the prospects for peace are better than ever. But he charged that Premier Yitzhak Rabin’s government is not doing enough to achieve peace, Mapam, a member of the governing Labor Alignment, endorses Israel’s policy toward Lebanon.
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.