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Notes from the Prime Minister of Israel to Presidents and Prime Ministers following the establishment of the Arab Federation

(May 5, 1963)

On 5 May 1963, Prime Minister Ben-Gurion addressed Notes to a number of world leaders, calling their attention to this pact and its open design, and asking them to call on the Arab States in general and Egypt in particular to "honour the national independence and territorial integrity of all other nations in the Middle East and arrive at a peaceful settlement on a basis agreed by both sides." Text of the Note to Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev:

The Soviet Union has always advocated peaceful co-existence and we are sure that this is the supreme, sincere will of the Russian people. Peaceful co-existence must be brought also to the Middle East. All nations of the Middle East must honour the national independence and territorial integrity of all other nations in the Middle East and arrive at a peaceful settlement on a basis agreed by both sides. A nation which refuses this should not enjoy any international support, and, above all, not the support of the Great Powers. I am sure that if the Soviet Union will help to realize these principles, it will be contributing to the stability and peace in the Middle East.

The peace in the Middle East depends above all on one Middle East country Egypt. This State needs the help of the Soviet Union as well as the help of the United States. A joint request of this kind, coming from these two Powers, would undoubtedly bring about the desirable results.


Source: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs