55 years ago/June 19, 1967

The Israeli cabinet continued the discussion about the territories occupied in the Six-Day War, and a proposal to make for the Arab countries. However, any proposal to Jordan was delayed for a while, because the disagreement about the territories of Eretz Israel (the West Bank, Gaza Strip). In case of the Gaza Strip there was a security reason as well, the Israeli leadership supposed to be easier to defend a small border between the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula (when latter would be part of Egypt again), than the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. At the end of the day two proposals were made for Egypt and Syria, which, for security guarantees – free shipping in the Straits of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba, demilitarization of the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights etc. – and peace, promised the withdrawal of the Israeli troops. The Arab states were informed about the proposals through the US, but they refused them straight. However, there is the assumption that the proposals were made only because the Israeli leadership wanted to be seen in a good light by the US while the fifth special emergency session of the UN General Assembly was discussing the situation in the Middle East. On the other hand, the land for peace idea was and is a part of the peace process since then. In a speech President Lyndon B. Johnson determined five principles for achieving peace in the Middle East. This were: 1. The fundamental right of every nation in the area to live and to have this right respected by its neighbours. 2. Justice for the refugees. Without it he didn’t think there would be peace in the Middle East. 3. The maritime rights must be respected. He said the most irresponsible act causing the war was the decision to close the Straits of Tiran. 4. Restriction – observation at the beginning – of the arms race in the area. 5. Respect for political independence and territorial integrity of all the states of the area (and an adequate recognition of the special interests of three religions in Jerusalem) – recognized boundaries and security arrangements. He also said, just to return to the situation on June 4 wouldn’t solve the problem, only would just renew the hostilities. He thought that the parties involved the conflict should have found the way to a peaceful solution, with the help of the United Nations and other parties. At the end he emphasized again that the solution was in the hands of the people and the leaders in the Middle East. In New York the fifth emergency special session of the UN General Assembly continued. First Alexei Nikolayevich Kosygin, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union held his speech, which practically repeated the Soviet viewpoint a bit longer. He named Israel as aggressor and the one responsible for the war, with the imperialists in the background. He didn’t miss the chance to mention the Vietnam War and other conflicts in the world for which the imperialists were held to be responsible by him, then he went through the events leading to the war and the war itself. The main point however was still that Israel captured most of the Arab territories after the Security Council called for the cessation of the hostilities. Then he spoke about the draft resolution of the USSR, which contained the condemnation of Israel as aggressor, demand the immediately and unconditionally withdraw of the Israeli forces, Israeli reimbursement for the Arab states. After Kosygin Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abba Eban held a speech. In it he quoted hostile Arab statements and the role of the Soviet Union in the escalation of the crisis – armament of the Arab countries, misleading information, obstructing the work of the Security Council. He said as well that only to return to the situation on June 4 wasn’t a solution for the region. He also mentioned, there was free access to the holy places in Jerusalem again in contrast with the previous twenty years. He asked help to find a peaceful solution. The United States Ambassador to the UN Arthur Goldberg was next. His speech was mainly about to deny Kosygin’s words and made a dig at the Soviet diplomat. He promised the position of his country for the next day. Goldberg was followed by Lord Caradon, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, who also had some words about Kosygin’s speech. The last speaker was Jamil Baroody, Saudi Representative to the United Nations who held – in connection with Abba Eban’s words – a short anti-Zionist speech. Also on this day the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was submitted to the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. It was about the tasks coming in the wake of the war.