Unfortunately conditions for return not yet adequately clarified. Israel high officials Inform that conditions have been detailed to Red Cross but just two days before stated time Jordanian Government has. to my knowledge. not been informed through any authorized channel of the conditions of such transfer. Today I have visited the Jericho refugee complex in the West Jordan area. Camps are virtually empty. with only 3.000 to 4.000 of original 75.000 refugees remaining. Camps are in condition. far far superior to present plight. Sanitation facilities intact. Humane considerations require return to these and other camps. In my unofficial talks with Israeli officials I have stressed and will continue to stress: (1) Whole world will be watching anxiously for good faith performance pledge to allow Innocent refugees to return in an orderly. humane manner. (2) Assurances appear necessary that refugees will be permitted to receive remittances or other funds sent by relatives working in other Arab countries and that said relatives. with proper identification and control. will be able to visit families. I have communicated these personal convictions to both Israeli and Jordanian officials. Please be assured I have emphasized I speak only as an individual Senator with a deep interest in this human problem. Ambassador Barbour has also emphasized the importance of the foregoing points In numerous conversations and has extended to me the most hospitable cooperation. Perhaps compassionate treatment of these victims of conflict could smooth the path to conditions of peaceful coexistence in this distraught area. Reports since then have unfortunately indicated that my misgivings about the state of planning for the return of the refugees were justified. On Monday. July 10. the first day of the return period. the Associated Press reported that hundreds of refugees came to the Allenby Bridge in hopes of returning to the west bank of the Jordan. According to this report. they were turned away. They were turned away. as I understand it. not because of Israels intention to keep them out. but because arrangements through the International Red Cross and by the two countries concerned had not been completed I regret this delay and the very obvious human suffering it has caused. At the same time. I have every confidence. on the basis of my discussions with Israel leaders. that the situation will be remedied and that most of the refugees who wish to return will be permitted so to do. Mr. President. I cannot over emphasize the importance of what happens over the next few weeks and months in Israels dealings with the Arab refugees. If Israel should live up to its promise to repatriate the Arab refugees by investing In the economics. in the agriculture and the industry of the refugee areas. and in the rehabilitation of the people into productive enterprise. the cause of peace In the Middle East will be greatly advanced. or so it seems to me. I believe the world is of one mind with regard to humane treatment of the refugees. This consensus for compassion just might be the easiest. if not the only path. to de facto. though undeclared. formulas for peaceful relations in the Middle East. If Israel should be able. not only to care for these innocent victims of the conflict in the Middle East. but actually to improve their lot. then I think that there is real hope of a gradual development of working agreements between some of the Arab states and Israel.
Keywords matched
refugee refugees