Jordan Seeks Arab Summit

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31941, 19 March 1969, Page 13

Jordan Seeks Arab Summit

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

CAIRO, March 18.

King Hussein of Jordan today called for an Arab summit meeting to discuss the Middle East crisis, and said his country’s policy towards the Palestinian guerrilla fighters was based on co-ordination and cooperation.

Speaking to senior editors of the authoritative Cairo newspaper, “Al Ahram,” the King said that Jordan, Iraq and Syria were strengthening their eastern fronts against Israel, and that Jordanians were prepared for all sacrifices.

King Hussein, on a two-day visit to the Egyptian capital for talks with President Nasser, said: "We hope our brothers in the Arab world feel the danger threatening them and see the necessity to meet and co-operate. The only way is to meet on the highest level. A summit could bring about decisions on how best to face the enemy.” King Hussein said that the United Nations Security Council resolution of November 22, 1967, which called for, among other things, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories, was the minimum that could be accepted.

“As far as Jerusalem is concerned, we will never accept any change in the situation

which has lasted for 1300 years,” he said. “We shall never accept, whatever the circumstances or the obstacles, the internationalisation of Jerusalem. We shall die, but we will not give up Jerusalem.” Sworn In In Jerusalem yesterday, Mrs Golda Meir was sworn in as the first woman Prime Minister of Israel, having won the confidence of Parliament by a vote of 84 to 12. Mr David Ben-Gurion, aged 82, a former Prime Minister, presented an isolated figure by abstaining. He later told the House that Mrs Meir had sought to hide from the people the “moral blemishes” that had led some Labour Party leaders to seek to oust him during his term of office. Although the confidence vote was always assured for Mrs Meir, the first speaker in the debate. Rabbi Itzhaq Meir Lewin, leader of the UltraOrthodox Agudath Israel Party, criticised the fact that a woman should head a government of the Jewish State. He recalled that, according to Jewish tradition, women are accorded inferior status In certain areas of public and religious life. In her policy statement, Mrs Meir clearly reminded the great Powers that they could not impose a Middle East solution without Israel’s approval. “In matters affecting our I existence ... no decision can

be adopted without us,” she said.

Pledging to continue the policy of the previous Administration, Mrs Meir said her Government would regard the safeguarding of the country’s security as its central task; and she coupled this with an undertaking “to continue to strive for peace.” The new Israeli leader stated unequivocally that the Government, like its prede-

cessor, would insist on direct negotiations with the Arab neighbours as the only way to peace. Mrs Meir later announced that the Cabinet of her predecessor, the late Mr Levi Eshkol, would remain unchanged. Jordan Protests Jordan has protested to the United Nations Security Council about the latest Israeli air raid against its territory, during which, it alleged, rockets, napalm and machine-guns were used. The Jordanian Ambassador to the United Nations (Mr Muhammed El Farra) told the President of the Council (Mr Karoly Csatorday, of Hungary) that Israel jet fighters had crossed into Jordan for the third consecutive day, first strafing the Addasiyah area and, an hour later, attacking Manshiyah and Shunah Al Shamaiiyah, in the north.

Israel rejected Jordan’s complaints and told the Security Council today that Arab guerrilla organisations were continuing to launch terrorist attacks from Jordanian territory against the occupied lands. The Israeli Ambassador (Mr Yosef Tekoah) said that Jordan was clearly responsible for controlling these guerilla bands, and that the air raids had been’ necessary for self-defence. All areas of civilian population had been avoided, he added.