They publicly assert that the only honorable solution to the Palestine question is that "Israel be removed from existence. This is the theme which dominates their public declarations. their press. and their radios. Israel has repeatedly asserted that it did not create the- Arab refugee problem. nor can it be expected to agree to invite a fifth column. avowedly bent on its destruction. This view is understood and supported by us. Nevertheless Israel has made concession after concession to contribute toward a fair and just solution of this problem. Although initially Israel had regarded it as related to a general settlement between itself and its hostile Arab neighbors. in 1958 It offered to pay compensation for the property of Arab refugeesprovided they are integrated in Arab countries and that international assistance is availableeven prior to such a general settlement. As far as I am able to ascertain Israel has not changed its position. It is willing to cooperate in an overall plan to facilitate the resettling of Arab refugees in Arab countries. It is not ready to make a series of unilateral concessions outside the context of a general. solution of the refugee problem. Technically. the Arabs base their position on the General Assembly Resolution 194 of December 1948. which states: . The General Assembly resolves that the refugees who wish to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date. No reference is ever made to the key phrase. "live at peace with their neighbors." Our goal for the peoples of the Middle East. as elsewhere. is peace with freedom. This cannot be bought at the expense of the refugees. or at the expense of Israel. or at the expense of the Arab people. Repatriation of Arab refugees in Israel. I submit. is more than an impracticable plan. It constitutes a mortal threat to a friendly democracy.
Identified stereotypes
Arabs want to remove Israel from existence.