Israel angered by Waldheim speech

Press, 30 July 1980, Page 9

Israel angered by Waldheim speech

NZPA-Reuter New Yorki Israel rebuked the United Nations Secretary-General (Dr Kurt Waldheim) yesterday for endorsing the controversial principle of Palestinian statehood in an impromptu speech at an Arab League dinner in New York on Fridav. I “They have a right to selfdetermination. including statehood.” Dr Waldheim said, according to a transcript of his remarks, which Clovis Maksoud, the league's representative, said would be issued today. It was the first time Dr Waldheim had spoken so postively in support of Palestinian statehood, which is anathema to Israel and its principal supporter, the (United States. i In a sharp rejoinder, the J Israeli Mission in New York [accused him of electioneering for a third term i— his five-year term will (expire at the end of next year — and of exceeding the (limits of his office by siding (with the Arabs in the [Middle East dispute.

i Supporters of the Arab case form a big United Nations majority. "The gravity of his recent utterance is augmented by the fact that it comes in the midst of the debate, currently being held in the General "Assembly on this mat- ; ter. the Israelis said. | Against the evidence of speeches he made to the Or-' ; ganisation of African Unityin Freetown. Sierra Leone ■ and to a United Nations conference in Tunis, both

> this month, Dr Waldheim's ■ spokesman insisted that' what the Secretary-General ; told the Arab delegates at i their dinner was no new departure. i In neither speech did he /speak even of self-determi- : nation for the Palestinians — only of their “legitimate. ?! rights"' and of a need to. t.bring' the Palestinian Liber-, -jation Organisation into /peace negotiations. I j According to a copy of Mr} tiMaksouds’ transcript, which! e.the United Nations spokes-; ’'man said had been shown to! e,Dr Waldheim and had under-! ‘gone what he termed “stylis-l

tic" revision, the SecretaryGeneral said this, m part: “As long as the Palestinian issue has not been resolved. there can be no comprehensive, settlement of the. Middle East question. This, means that foreign forces, have to be withdrawn from the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem. “It also means that the legitimate rights of the Pales-: tinians have to he respected.. They have a right to self-1 determination. including statehood.” The General Assembly, now meeting in an emergence- special session on the Palestinian question, was expected to vote yesterday or today on a resolution calling aeain for total Israeli withdrawal from occupied Arab, territories. . ■ . It would also reaffirm the, • Palestinians’ right to self-de-i termination and to set up their own independent State. ■; This is anathema to Israel, Land to the United States, ■lwhich, was expected to be lithe only Western country -(voting against the resolu--Ition.