Speech #910153880

No selfrespecting nation would accede to such demands. The terms proposed by Secretary Rogers are tantamount to a surrender to the territorial and political demands of the Arab States. even though it was they who launched the 1967 aggression against Israel. who lost that war and who are still determined to destroy Israel. In discussing the refugee problem President Johnson urged Israel and her Arab neighbors to "participate directly and wholeheartedly in a massive program to assure these people a better and more stable future." Israeli leaders have stated time and time again that they are willing to negotiate anytime. anywhere with Arab leaders the outstanding issues in disputeincluding the refugee problem. In that regard it is interesting to note that the administration fails to consider that Israel has accepted almost onehalf million persecuted Jews from Arab lands. many of whom were virtually expelled. At the same time the Arab governments have refused to make any serious effort to resettle Arab refugees. They prefer to let them remain in squalid refugee camps on Israels border. where their hate and thirst for revenge grows unabated. It may be that the Nixon administration is seeking a peaceful solution to the tragic conflict in the Middle East. However. in rejecting the idea of direct negotiations and seeking to involve other parties in the settlement. the administration undermines the Israel position. encourages continued hostility by the Arab nations. and decreases the chance for a peaceful and binding settlement. U.S. policy toward Israel has been one of continual retrogression. It has gone from the commitment under the Johnson administration for a peace made by the parties to the conflict to a plan whereby the parties would merely fill in the details of specific proposals made by our Government and others. from adjustment of borders to insure security to withdrawal to the 1967 borders. from maneuverability in resolving the refugee problem to the demand that Israel accept 1.4 million Palestinian refugees filled with hatred for Israel and committed to her destruction. This potential fifth column would then constitute more than a third of the population of Israel. Mr.