‘ISRAEL PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE’

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32349, 15 July 1970, Page 17

‘ISRAEL PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE’

(N.Z. Press Association—<Copyright) JERUSALEM, July 14. The Israeli Foreign Minister (Mr Abba Eban) said yesterday that Israel was prepared to negotiate freely and directly with the Arabs through the United Nations special envoy to the Middle East (Dr Gunner Jarring). But he said Israel would not budge from the present cease-fire line until a peace treaty was negotiated.

In a foreign policy address to the Knesset (Parliament), Mr Eban said that the Soviet Union’s involvement in the Middle East conflict was a threat to world peace, and that Israel could not accept the latest Russian peace proposals because they endangered her security. "Israel is asked to react to proposals submitted for consideration, but she is even more entitled to have her own

principles and initiatives seriously considered,” Mr Eban said. ■ “Israel is ready to accept the cease-fire as decided by the Security Council in June, 1967, to negotiate freely and directly with every Arab State, to have Dr Jarring invite the parties to conduct negotiations on the establisbmen of peace, and to hold such a peace conference according to the Rhodes procedures. “Israel has emphasisted that the establishment of peace frontiers is open for negotiation and agreement, and is not a question that has already been decided," Mr Eban went on. She has announced that any question, without exception, may be discussed at such negotiations."

Earlier in his speech, however, Mr Eban declared: “Israel is absolutely determined to hold on to the cease-fire lines of 1967. International peace and law support her right to remain on these lines until the establishment of frontiers of peace and it is in her power to implement this right”

Of the Soviet Union’s influence in the Middle East Mr Eban said: “Russia’s military presence in Egypt overshadows the Arab-Israeli conflict, and should be opposed by all those who cherish peace.” Of the Soviet Union’s peace proposals, he said: “The plan, presented in two versions recently, is not a peace plan, but a plan designed to endanger Israel’s security, and to maintain continuous tension in the Middle East by an accurate reconstruction of the situation that produced the war of 1967. “The Soviet Union now makes the military and politiFijians’ Mission Three Fijian couples, who will work among Aborigines in the Northern Territory of Australia for four years, will leave Suva later this month. Messrs Samuela Saurara Vateitei, Taione Peraki Leweniqila and Joviisi Ragata, have been appointed by the Methodist Church to work as missionary agriculturists in the Northern Territory; will be accompanied by their wifes.— Suva, July 14.

cal decisions for Egypt, as I part of her bid to gain control of the M diterranean and establish a military foothold in Africa. “But,” Mr Eban added, “the Arabs’ war of attrition against Israel, waged with Russian assistance, has failed as a comprehensive strategy, and Israel is determined to stand firm.”