Eshkol Castigates Decision of Arab Rulers at Khartoum Not to Recognize Israel

Prime Minister Levi Eshkol last night castigated the Arab summit meeting just concluded at Khartoum, Sudan, as an “irresponsible” body. He expressed Israel’s sorrow over the meeting’s decision not to recognize Israel or to negotiate with Israel, saying that was “a grave matter which forces Israel to draw her own conclusions in the fields of politics and security.”

“This stand of the Arab heads of state,” said Mr. Eshkol, “strengthens Israel in her resolution not to permit a return to conditions that enabled her enemies to undermine her security and act against her sovereignty and her very existence. Israel will stand fast in the positions essential to her security and to her unhindered development.” The Premier’s statement was issued on behalf of the entire Cabinet, which had just met.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Abba Eban said that the proposals for solution of the Middle East crisis, made by Yugoslavian President Tito, were aimed “not at saving the peace but at saving the Arab governments from the need to make peace.” “Israel,” he said, “categorically opposes any solution not based on agreement by the sides to the dispute.” Mr. Eban said that these attitudes will be made known by Israel to all governments with which Israel has diplomatic relations.

Yesterday, Mr. Eban rejected any idea that Israel might accept a “partnership” on Jerusalem affairs between the Jews and Arabs in the city’s municipal government. He made that statement in bidding farewell to Ambassador Ernesto Thalmann, United Nations Secretary-General Thant’s special representative regarding Jerusalem. The latter left Israel after a two-week fact-finding mission he had undertaken for Mr. Thant.