BUILDING-LOCATION OF MEETING; ARABS ENTERING; RELIGIOUS LEADER OF JAFFA AWAITING ARRIVAL OF ALLON; ALLON ARRIVING, SPEAKING.




Initials MJS/VS/JH/GJB



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Background: DELEGATES TO AN ARAB-JEWISH FRIENDSHIP MEETING IN TEL AVIV, ISRAEL ON THURSDAY (17 APRIL) HEARD ISRAEL'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YIGAL ALLON PLEAD FOR PEACE BETWEEN THE TWO RACES.

THE MEETING WAS THE FIRST ARRANGED BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR ARAB-JEWISH UNDERSTANDING AND FRIENDSHIP. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM TEENAGERS, CROWDED INTO THE JOURNALISTS' ASSOCIATION HALL WHERE THE MEETING WAS HELD.

AMONG THE DELEGATES WERE CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS FROM MANY OF THE ARAB COMMUNITIES IN ISRAEL, INCLUDING SOME FROM THE DISPUTED TERRITORIES WHICH ISRAEL HAS OCCUPIED SINCE THE SIX-DAY WAR. THERE WAS ALSO A LARGE GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM EAST JERUSALEM.

MR. ALLON WAS WELCOMED TO THE MEETING BY THE ARAB RELIGIOUS LEADER OF JAFFA, THE KADI.

THE DELEGATES TOOK A FORMAL DECISION TO CREATE A "HOME FOR ARAB AND JEWISH UNDERSTANDING" UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE HISTADRUT (UNION OF WORKERS) AND THE TEL AVIV MUNICIPALITY.

DEPUTY PREMIER ALLON ASKED FOR AN ARAB LEADER TO MUSTER THE NECESSARY COURAGE AND MAKE PEACE WITH ISRAEL.

ARAB SPEAKERS CALLED FOR JOINT EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PEACE.

THE MEETING TOOK PLACE ON THE SAME DAY AS A MASS ISRAELI RALLY, AT WHICH ISRAEL'S DEFENCE MINISTER MOSHE DAYAN SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY ARAB STATES COULD MOVE ISRAEL BACK FROM HER PRESENT LINES WAS THROUGH DIRECT TALKS, "SPEAKING AS ONE NEIGHBOUR TO ANOTHER".