President Habib Bourguiba, of Tunisia, called today for the creation of “a climate of peace and co-existence between Israel and the Arab states.” In separate interviews over the French radio and in two of the most influential daily newspapers here–Le Monde and Le Figaro–the Tunisian leader reiterated, strengthened and enlarged upon his call for Arab-Israeli rapprochement, which he first issued in Jordanian Jerusalem a month ago.
In all three statements, he urged a return to the United Nations Palestine Partition plan of 1947. In the interview in Le Figaro, he added: “It is equally necessary to recognize the United Nations decision creating the State of Israel, declaring: “It is to everybody’s interest to respect the legality of the United Nations. For the Arab refugees, it would mean a possibility to recuperate part of the lands from which they have been chased. Even more important, this would establish a climate of peace and co-existence.”
Summarizing his past statements on the subject of an Arab-Israeli detente, which have raised many protests in the Arab press, President Bourguiba said: “What I have suggested is mutual concessions and satisfactions. Other Arab heads of state agree with what I have said, but they excite public opinion and thus create a difficult situation for themselves.”
He was critical of President Nasser of Egypt, charging the latter with “lack of realism and a wish to create a sham unity of the Arab League, with a common capital and under the leadership of a single man.” “Due to such day-dreaming, “he said, “Egypt has met with difficulties in the past.”
URGES ARABS TO BE REALISTIC; SAYS THEIR POLICIES FAILED FOR 17 YEARS
In the interview in Le Monde, Mr. Bourguiba declared that “reason must prevail over sentiments and hatred” in the search for a solution to “the Palestine problem.” “As far as Palestine is concerned,” the Arabs “must be realists and overstep the phase of recriminations. We must take into consideration changed periods, have a humane sense, and not let sentiments and hatred supplant reason.”
Commenting on the Arab reaction to his recent statements on Israel, Mr. Bourguiba declared: “Many people have understood me. Some Arab refugees from Palestine have applauded my stand. It happens, however, that Nasser was in the midst of an electoral campaign when I made my statements. The other Arab states did not dare tell him ‘no.'”
Asserting that time favored his views on the question, President Bourguiba said that he believed that the Arab policies which have been failing for 17 years cannot succed now. He said that one result of his voicing new views on the subject was that the Arabs would be compelled to ponder his statements.
He put forward as one possible course of action the application of the boundaries for Israel recommended by the United Nations in 1947. If these boundaries were imposed, he declared, “Israel would thus have to give up territories which they have occupied across this border–namely, the regions of Jaffa, Acre and Nazareth, and the refugees would be able to return to their homes.”
Asserting that “naturally, the Israelis would not agree to this,” the Tunisian President said that “at least it would place the Arabs in a better position, “adding that the continued repetition by the Arabs of the charge that the existence of the State of Israel was an injustice, “even if this is true, is of little help.”
Stressing that, in voicing these views on the Arab-Israel dispute “all I did was say aloud what many think quietly,” Mr. Bourguiba said that many Arab regimes are not stable enough and fear Nasser’s enmity.
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.
