Speech #860134646

France. and the United States assured Israels borders. and the U.N. Emergency Force in the Gaza strip and the Strait of Tiran has brought to an end border raids on -the Egyptian border. so such a U.N. guarantee could be meaningful in terms of achieving a solution to the problem of transit through the Suez. The third unsettling development to which I referred earlier is the question of the Arab refugees. U.N. Secretary Dag Hammarskjold early in June published a proposal to deal with the refugee problem. wherein $1.5 to $2 billion would be expended within the next 5 years on projects that would make production jobs for the estimated 900.000 refugees in Arab countries. The Arab States have rejected the proposal. indicating that they would be satisfied with no less than repatriation of the refugees in Israelan obvious impossibility with their final position to be taken at the impending Casablanca conference of the Arab League. Jordan has qualified its position out of concern for the territorial problems of what was formerly Palestine. but this has not changed the basic situation. This follows a pattern in which I feel that Arab States have been most misguided in refusing to cooperate in the firm settlement of the Arab refugees. where they can be so practicably accommodated. but have insisted on keeping hundreds of thousands of the refugees in the misery of the refugee camps as a political weapon against Israel. The U.N. General Assembly will undoubtedly have this item on its agenda this month. The United States can do no less than be fully prepared to move for settlement of the Arab refugee problem. which has too long been one of the most critical problems in the Mideast. A resettlement plan should include worldwide action of the same nature as Europes resettled displaced persons. Whatever may be the objections of Arab spokesmen to the proposition that the Arab refugees were made to leave what is now Israel by exhortations of the Arab armies in preparation for a triumphant return after the Jews had been pushed into the sea. the unfortunate fact is that for 10 years there has been no Arab cooperation in their resettlement and they have been used largely as a political dagger pointed at Israel. Recent reports indicate that 1.400 jobs for refugees went unfilled when exit permits were denied them by Arab host governments. host governments which have rejected also plans for extensive development programs for resettlement. Syria and Lebanon. on their part. have obliged UNWRA to transport supplies for these unfortunates by railroad rather than. less expensively. by truck. Arab refugees constitute almost half the population in Jordan. about 517.388 being there. with 221.058 in the Gaza Strip. 102.586 in Lebanon. and 92.524 in Syria. with an annual net population * increase of 25.000 to 30.000 due to a continuing high birth rate. It is clear that the problem must be settled now. Israel has evidenced willingness to negotiate compensation for Arab proper* ties. notwithstanding its heavy counterclaims against the Arab States. which ejected 300.000 Jews since 1948 and de* prived them of their property. The problem of land could be quickly settled by the Arab governments. particularly Iraq. which has the resources in land and water and is underpopulated. and whose new revolutionary regime we have just recognized. A major effort by the United Nations and the United States to enlist its participation could prove most fruitful at this time. I believe that Israel will take a reasonable number of the refugees suitable for repatriation and giving consideration to the dangers to its security by any fifth column. Also. Israel has already repatriated 25.000 to 30.000 Arabs. and in reuniting Arab families and by other means. it is estimated as many as 100.000 former Arab refugees are now located in Israel. Obviously. the resettlement of the Arab refugees is not a complete policy for the Mideast. but it does represent an initiative upon which the other elements can be built. They include: First a clear guarantee of Mideast borders against direct or indirect aggression. preferably under U.N. auspices. This would include also the U.N. guarantee of freedom of transit through the Suez Canal.