Israel might talk to some Palestinians

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33694, 18 November 1974, Page 19

Israel might talk to some Palestinians

(By

COLIN BICKLER,

an N.Z.P.A.-Reuter correspondent)

JERUSALEM, November 14. Israel, determined not to negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organisation (P.L.0.) over the future of the Israeli-occupied west bank of Jordan and the Gaza Strip, is for the first time feeling its way towards some form of dialogue with other Palestinians.

Whether the 1,100,000 inhabitants of these territories—let alone the P.L.O. or Jordan—will go along with any new proposals is a debatable question.

The Foreign Minister (Mr Yigal Allon) admits that Israel still has a great deal of study to do on the Question.

The Government has not departed, s,o far, from its well established line that there is no room for a Palestinian state between Israel and Jordan. But it seems to be offering new interim solutions. The Arab summit conference in Rabat last month made it clear that negotiations with Jordan’s King Hussein on the West Bank are out of the question for the time being. The summit meeting recognised the P.L.O. as the only representative of all land recovered in any way from Israel. Israel refuses to deal with the P.L.0., which it con-

siders a guerrilla organisation, but the decision of the United Nations General Assembly to hear representatives of that body in a debate this week seems to have driven home the need tp come up with a new alternative.

Mr Allon has always been regarded as one of Israel’s more “dovish” leaders and it is not certain that what he told foreign correspondents earlier this week, about attitudes towards Palestinians in the occupied territories, necessarily represents the view of the whole labour dominated coalition. Certainly it does not represent that of his National Religious Party coalition partners or of a significant part of the opposition Likud both of which want to hold on to the whole west bank. But subsequently the Defence Minister (Mr Shimon Peres) said at a public meeting that Israel was prepared to talk peace with “Jordanians or Palestinians or west bank Arabs,” but not the P.L.O. The Prime Minister (Mr

Yitzhak Rabin) told another public meeting that the Rabat summit meeting, which backed the P.L.O. as representative of the west bank, might open up new possibilities in the occupied territories though not with the P.L.O. All this seems a move away from the harder line of the former Prime Minister, Mrs Golda Meir.

However, every significant Israeli leader says that negotiations with the P.L.O. are out of the question, particularly as long as it does not amend its 1968 covenant, which, Israel says, called f.or an armed struggle “to liberate Palestine” and “purge the Zionist presence.” The P.L.0., considered in Israel as an umbrella organisation of various guerrilla groups, is held responsible by Israelis for attacks on northern settlements. The P.L.O. leader, Mr Yasser Arafat, is still considered as a guerrilla leader responsible, through the Al Fatah organisation, for various outrages. NOT AMENDED

Adding to Israeli distrust is the fact that, despite statements suggesting a new moderation in the P.L.0., the organisation has not amended the 1968 convenant.

Mr Rabin, Mr Allon, and the Information Minister (Mr Aharon Yariv) —who at one stage suggested that if the P.L.O. dropped its guerrilla activity and acknowledged Israel’s right to exist it might be a negotiating partner—have stressed that the covenant makes negotiation impossible. They say that the covenant demands the elimination of Israel.

Moreover, a two-thirds majority of the Palestine national council is required to amend the covenant, and there have been no signs of a move in this direction, the Israelis say. ALTERNATIVES If Jordan is no longer in the negotiating stakes and the P.L.O. is out as well, what are the alternatives? Mr Allon hinted that Israel might start a dialogue with those it considers moderate elements on the west bank towards some form of

home rule, until the over-all] question can be settled. Some west bank leaders say that the Israeli overture may be too late, after Rabat. Nonetheless, latest statements by Israeli leaders indicate that they want to try. Recalling past Israeli policies, Mr Allon told foreign correspondents “since the real Palestinian Arabs, who are not identified with the P.L.0., are living in our midst in the administered (occupied) areas, we have to do some thinking and plan-, ning on how to promote their self-expression by different systems.” When pressed, he said: “If we are to reconcile ourselves to the idea that Jordan is out of the game, I don’t think — at least for the time being—that the only alternatives we have to choose between are either a solution through Jordan or the status quo.

“A third possibility may arise—maybe more feasible than in the past — but this again needs further study.”

He did not elaborate a great deal but said that he was sure that if a settlement was near “the Palestinian Arabs of the west bank will be given the opportunity to raise their voice to express their opinion. 1 see no reason, however, to invite gangs of terrorists to act as if they were representing a national liberation movement.” His remarks seemed echoed to some extent by Mr Peres, who told a meeting that Israel was ready to talk to “authoritative representatives” of the west bank.