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November 1971
removed. I think therefore, when you
analyze the possibility of Russian inter–
vention in the current crisis, it can be
frightening, and it can be annoying,
but it cannot be crucial.
Q .
Is Egypt happy, do you feel, in
its dependence on Moscow?
A.
I doubt that as well. I think that
Egypt would in many respects, !ove to
have its cake and eat it too.
Q.
If
the Soviet Union and the
United States - the Big Powers -
would disengage themselves from the
The
PLAIN TRUTH
Middle East, would another war be–
tween Arab and Israel be more or
less likely?
A.
Less.
Q .
Would you prefer that the Big
Powers get out and leave you to work
it out alone?
A.
I would prefer the Russians to get
out. I think that it's time America real–
ized that our war here is not entirely
between the Israelis and the Egyptians
but a confrontation among West and
East. It's time the United States realized
"East Jerusalem is totally Arab.. .Consequently
it should be considered always as Arab
territory under occupation."
Baha ud -Din Toukan, Ambassador ol Jordan
to the United Nations
BAHA UD-DIN TOUKAN has been
Ambassador of Jordan to the United
Nations since Aprü 1971. His home
town is Salt on the East bank of tbe
Jordan. He graduated from the
American University in Beirut and
sbortly tbereafter ioined the dvil ser–
vice of Jordan. He was also in the
court of the late King Abdullab. In
1947 he was Consul General of Trans–
¡ordan in Jerusalem. A year later he
took a post in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and later became Minister
Plenipotentiary to Cairo, Egypt and
Ankara, Turkey. He was also Am–
bassador of Jordan in London. From
1966-70, be was under-Secretary of
tbe Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
represented the Arab League in Rome.
Q.
Mr. Ambassador, do you see any
realistic chances for an early settle–
ment
to
the Middle Eastern crisis?
A.
Well, 1 can't foresee a solution in
the very near future, but it all depends
on Israel reacting more positively to
the notes and demands of Dr. Jarring,
that is, a commitment by Israel to abide
by Resolution 242 of the Security Coun–
cil. Or at least, a commitment to with-
draw from the occupied Arab territories.
Q .
Do you foresee the potential for
any renewed hostilities?
Oc
do you
believe that perbaps the attitude will
mellow and that the existing cease–
fire will be lengthened indefinitely?
A.
Nobody in the Middle East - on
behalf of the Arabs I say that - would
Iike
to
resume hostilities. They are
very peaceful and peacefully minded.
It all depends on how Israel will react
to this attitude in particular and to the
Arab attitude of demanding a peaceful
settlement on the basis of the United
Nations Resolution.
Q.
Jordan and Israel have been able
to get along togetber historically and
certainly Arabs inside Israel have been
able to Iive, go to school and work
beside the Israelí people. Why do you
believe, then, that it's very difficult
for peace on the national basis?
A.
Israel, ever since its creation, has
ignored all the United Nations resolu–
tions with regard to the legal rights of
the Palestinians. Palestinians were forced
to leave their property and were forced
out of their bornes and have been living
on chaúty in scattered refugee camps.
Jordan tried to have the resolutions en-
15
that she has to put a stop to the Rus–
sians somewhere.
Q.
Do you foresee a time when
Israel can join together with Lebanon,
Jordan, Egypt, and others in a Middle
East Common Market?
A.
Definitely.
It
might take 25 years.
But eventually we Israelis must think
that way.
If
we are sure that we are
not here just as a passing episode, but
we are here to stay, we must think
about our future as being part of the
Middle East economically, culturally
and physically. O
forced and implemented without success.
Had they been impJemented, the crisis
wouldn't have reached this stage.
Q.
Do you believe that there is any
possibility that the present Israelí
government will abide by the resolu–
tion?
A.
They should, if they want to be
part of this international community.
The current trend in the international
committee of nations is that everyone is
looking for peace. Consequently every–
one should cooperate to achieve this
peace.
Q.
Do you believe that if Israel with–
drew
to
the pre-1967 bordees, that
peace would be achieved in the Middle
East?
A.
Yes, I think it would.
Q.
Why do you believe this when
in
practica! fact there was no peace
prior to the June 1967 conflict?
A.
Because prior to 1967 Israel wasn't
prepared to accept the United Nations
resolutions for solving this question.
There were three main resolutions. One
with regard to the right of the refugees
to return to their homeland or receive
compensation. The second resolution
deals with the question of dividing
Palestine into two parts - one Jewish
and the other Arab. Israel defied that
because it expanded beyond the boun–
daries of 1947. The third resolution was
with regard to the internationalization
of Jerusalem. So far Israel has refused
to accept it. Israel has annexed West
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