Nasser ‘wanted accord in 1955’

Press, 30 November 1982, Page 8

Nasser ‘wanted accord in 1955’

NZPA Philadelphia The late Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasser, tried in 1955 to reach a peace settlement with Israel to avoid an arms build-up according to an American who says he conducted the secret talks.

The effort, which predated by more than 20 years the Camp David accords that brought peace between the two countries, fell apart when fighting broke out between Israeli forces and Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, according to Elmore Jackson, a former relief worker and United Nations observer for the American Friends Service Committee.

“Egypt was negotiating with the United States for arms but the Egyptians had come to the conclusion that those negotiations weren't going anywhere,” said Mr Jackson, who is 72.

“The only alternative to turning to 'the East (Communist Eastern Europe) was to get a settlement with Israel that would make arms on that level unnecessary," Mr Jackson said.

The committee, an arm of the Quaker Church in America was approached to set up talks between the two nations by Egypt’s Ambassador to Washington, Ahmed Hussein. Mr Jackson said that he was asked to conduct the mission because he had directed Palestinian relief efforts for the committee in Gaza in the late 19405.

The effort was undertaken with the knowledge and backing of the United States Government, he said. A State Department official last week told the "New York Times” that department records ; confirmed that Mr Jackson had been, on the mission. < ' ? ■

Mr Jackson’s role as intermediary in the summer (northern) of 1955 took him. to Jerusalem where he met David Ben-Gurion, who was

then Defence Minister, and the Acting Prime Minister, Moshe Sharett. In addition, he said he visited Cairo three or four times and spent 10 to 12 hours talking to Colonel Nasser, who was then Prime Minister of Egypt. "The Israelis were willing to talk about some repatriation of-refugees and some border adjustments,” he said. In addition, he said that Mr Ben-Gurion, then the principal political figure in Israel, wanted face-to-face negotiations with Colonel Nasser. “Nasser was initially intrigued. He talked about a location and an agenda. He also talked about the way in which he thought he might carry the other Arab States with him.

"The central question was whether progress would be . made fast enough .. . so that he wouldn’t find himself in long, drawn-out barren

negotiations, in which case he was sure the other Arab States would denounce him,” Mr Jackson said.

The possibility of negotiations ended after Israel, retaliating for frequent attacks by Fedayeen Palestinian terrorists, raided a refugee camp in late August, 1955. “It was a massive raid with 45 killed and another 40 injured,” Mr Jackson said. It created “an awkward situation" for Colonel .'Nasser and eventually led to the talks’ being shelved, he said. Mr Jackson, who has written an as yet unpublished account of his mission, said that the effort was kept secret at the request of the principals. But he said that people involved felt that publication now would indicate that Egypt’s ■ friendly relations with Israel are consistent with efforts of past Egyptian leaders.