The Press FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1968. Israeli Peace Offer

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31801, 4 October 1968, Page 10

The Press FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1968. Israeli Peace Offer

Peace in the Middle East can be based only on Arab acceptance of Israel’s permanence. While Arab provocations continue, especially the guerrilla raiding from Jordan—which King Hussein seems powerless to prevent—it would be futile to expect Israel to withdraw from any of the occupied territories; But it is at least encouraging that the Israeli Government is prepared to offer some concessions to Arab feeling. When he opened the Arab Socialist Union congress in Cairo on September 14, President Nasser insisted, as was politically expedient, that Egypt had a “ sacred “ duty ” to liberate the occupied territories. He has said much the same many times during the last 15 months; and he has emphasised that liberation would be achieved only by a military operation to “ destroy ” Israel Can President Nasser unbend now the Israelis are apparently prepared to withdraw from the Sinai peninsula and from most of the west bank of the Jordan river?

Between the peace plan to be submitted by Israel to the General Assembly of the United Nations and the Soviet Union’s demand for an unqualified withdrawal from all the occupied areas in Egypt, Jordan and Syria there is, of course, a vast gulf; but the Arabs would surely be unwise now to refuse to join in attempting to bridge it On three points the Israeli Government remains adamant. It will not give up, for reasons that seem more emotional than practical, the Old City of Jerusalem. It will not surrender the Syrian Heights, for reasons based, understandably, on the need to protect the Israeli border from Syrian raiding. It will not enter into any definite commitments without having had direct talks with representatives of the defeated Arab countries.

Much will depend on the Egyptian attitude if discussion of the Israeli offer is to be fruitful. The United Nations resolution of last November stipulated withdrawal from the occupied zones, the complete cessation of raiding and shelling, and Israel’s unimpeded use of the Suez Canal—if and when it is reopened—and the Gulf of Aqaba. Israel, Jordan, and Egypt accepted the resolution in principle as a framework for a political solution. Syria did not accept, but would be highly susceptible to pressure if an Arab-Israeli settlement were reached on broader grounds. What is important now is that a positive offer to compromise is being made by Israel, and thdt an obligation will rest on the Arab governments —and on Russia—to examine it responsibly and dispassionately.