Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, of New York, proposed today a three point program by which, he said, the United States could assist the United Nations in finding a solution to the Middle East conflict. He listed the Middle East crisis, along with the Vietnam war and the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia, as instances where the UN has been thwarted by the “superpowers.”
“The United States,” Gov. Rockefeller said, “should steadfastly support the United Nations’ effort to keep the cease-fire between Israel and her neighbors. It should seek to persuade the parties to refrain from clashes, infiltration and provocations along the cease-fire line. It should also support the strengthening of the UN Truce Supervision Organization and seek to persuade Jordan and Israel to accept UN observers along the Jordan River line.”
In addition, Gov. Rockefeller said, “The United States should unceasingly urge all parties to support Ambassador Jarring’s efforts to find the basis of a reasonable settlement, and to accept the Security Council resolution (of Nov. 22, 1967) as a basis for these efforts.” Finally, the New York Republican said, “it must be recognized…that the antagonisms between the Arabs and Israel are too deep-seated to yield to settlement unless pressure is exerted by both of the superpowers.” Mr. Rockefeller also proposed that the United States urge Israel to extend fair and liberal treatment to the Arabs in the occupied territories and to Arab refugees. “Assistance in providing compensation to those who have lost their property would in the long run be less expensive than the consequences of protracted guerrilla warfare,” he said.
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