Arab State Heads To Meet On Israel

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30338, 14 January 1964, Page 11

Arab State Heads To Meet On Israel

(N.ZP. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

CAIRO, Jan. 13. President Nasser of Egypt and King Hussein of Jordan agreed on the eve of today’s Arab League summit conference to restore diplomatic relations between their countries, the authoritative Cairo newspaper, “Al Ahram,” said. Egypt severed relations with Jordan in October, 1961. because Jordan recognised the Syrian regime which took Syria out of the United Arab Republic. Heads of State of 13 Arab League nations will meet today to discuss Israel’s re-

ported plan to divert the Jordan river water for irrigation. Long-standing inter-Arab disputes will, on the surface at any rate, be temporarily buried when the Kings and Presidents gather in the elegant conference room at the league’s headquarters for their private sessions. The meeting stems from President Nasser's speech in Port Said last December 23, when he said a heads of State conference must be convened to take decisions at the highest level on Israel’s plan for irrigating the barren Negev region. At first there were doubts that some Arab heads of State, frequent targets of Cairo Radio, would accept the invitation, but the first to accept was King Hussein, whose relations with President Nasser have nearly always been strained. When President Nasser shook hands with King Hussein at the airport yesterday, it was their first meeting since March, 1957. Observers in Cairo says the Arab leaders are mainly preoccupied with the political and military implications of the Israeli scheme. The Arabs feei, the observers say, that if Israel succeeds in diverting the river waters to the Negev in southern Israel, her ecoomy would be boosted to absorb 1,000,000 or possibly 2,000,000 Jewish immigrants. If old Arab scores are really forgotten, the conference could take decisions which might have far-reach-ing international repercussions. But many observers, recalling bitter feuds in the part and the personal attacks which some of the leaders have only recently been exchanging. question whether the conference can reach any agreements which will stand the test of time.