Arab black list may be extended

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33778, 26 February 1975, Page 17

Arab black list may be extended

( V.’ P A -Rditer—Copynohf > CAIRO, February 25. The Arab Boycott Office has recommended that the activities of foreign firms supplying Israel with factories should be banned as part of new measures to tighten the \rab economic blockade of Israel, the boycott chairman (Mr Mohammed Mahgoub, said today.

Mr Mahgoub said that the office was working on a proposal from the regional Boycott Office in Saudi Arabia to prohibit dealings with such concerns because the factories would strengthen Israel’s economy and might also consolidate Israeli war efforts.

The Boycott Office, an i Arab League body entrusted ! with blacklisting companies i and banks dealing with Israel and with ensuring that Israeli goods do not find their [way to Arab markets, began meeting at the league’s hekd- ' quarters yesterday. The meeting is expected to last 10 days. About 10,000 foreign com-! panies are on the blacklist ! The office during this session' is expected to lift the ban. on some 50 firms which have i presented documents proving that they have severed all[ links with Israel, coupled! with undertakings to invest! in Arab development projects. The office also discussed the question of the use of the Suez Canal, once it is reopened, by non-Israeli tourist ships coming from Israeli ports, Mr Mahgoub said. He said that the office j found that this issue was j governed by the 1888 Con-1 stantinople convention and decided to authorise Egypt to adopt necessary measures if the use of the canal represented a threat to security, of Egypt or other Arab countries.

Boycott Office sources said that such ships carrying tourists would not be banned, but that they could be if they were carrying volunteers to Israel or strategic goods.

The office also recommended that it was no longer necessary for Arab factories exporting goods to other Arab countries to present a certificate of origin — a decision taken to ensure that no Israeli goods, or goods produced by concerns on the black list, were involved. In another decision, the office decided to ban the activities of the Bahai sect in all Arab countries and to close their synagogues. Working on an Iraqi proposal, the office said that the sect, whose main synagogue is in Acre, Israel, was a'

Zionist instrument and thatl Bahaiists throughout the Iworld were supporting Israel ! financially. I The Bahaiists are! adherents of a religious !movement originating among !shia Moslems in Iran in the 'nineteenth century and emphasising the spiritual unity of mankind. The office is due today to| discuss the question of open; bridges between the occupied West Bank and Jordan with the aim of tightening measures to prevent any Israeli goods reaching Arab markets through this means.

I Among the 50 foreign comnames to be taken off the black list were the United [States Chemical Bank. First 'National City Bank of Chicago and the French arms manufacturing firm. F.ngins Matra, the source* said. ! A ban on the information activities of the American ! television companies. C.B.S. land N.8.C.. would also be reconsidered, if this was in [the interest of the Arab cause. The industrial and !commercial activities of the i two companies would 1 remain on the black list.