UNCCP – Arab refugees – Letter from Israel

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

Letter dated 29 July 1949 addressed by Mr. R. Shiloah, Head of the Delegation of Israel,

to the Principal Secretary of the Conciliation Commission

Dear Dr. Azcárate,

Further to our conversation this morning regarding my statement at the meeting with the Conciliation Commission on the 28th of July, I would like to submit to you in writing the precise views of my Government on the subject of refugees.

In response to the views of the Conciliation Commission and in order to facilitate the task of conciliation, the Government of Israel agrees that:

1) The problem of refugees be placed as the first item on the agenda of joint discussions of a general peace settlement;

2) On initiation of such discussions, the Israeli Delegation will be prepared to convey to the Commission and to the Arab Delegations the total figure of refugees which the Government of Israel will be ready to repatriate;

3) In the view of the Government of Israel, such repatriation must form part of a comprehensive plan for the settlement of the entire refugee problem;

4) This repatriation will be put into effect only as an integral part of a general and final peace settlement.

Yours sincerely,

S/ R. Shiloah