Evening star., 1948-07-20
PuIestine's New Truce

Despite charges and countercharges OF
violations, the new truce agreement In
Palestine, besides giving sorely needed
lift to the prestige of the United Nations,
promises to remain in effect long enough
to make possible lasting peace settlement.
The most significant aspect Of the truce
is that 1t Is supposed to be observed by
both sides not for limited period but
until a peaceful adjustment" is finally
worked out. The Security Council has not
merely recommended this; 1t has ordered
it, doing so with warning that refusal to
obey would invite political, economic and
perhaps even military sanctions.
1t is measure OF the U. MS great po-
tential power to preserve peace that the
provisional government of Israel promptly
League countries followed suit, though
reluctantly. Moreover, although both sides
have attached reservations to their accept
ance, there is good reason to hope that
the fighting between them, except for
sporadic violations by extremists, will
really be suspended indefnitely-a fact
that makes the prospect seem brighter
than at any time since the outbreak of
war in the Holy Land
This prospect is enhanced by the temper
displayed by King Abdullah of Trans
Jordan, one of the key figures in the
Palestine dispute. He has made point OF
declaring that the Arab Leagues accept
ance of the Councils order represents a
wise assent" and that the way to solve
the problem "is to negotiate-a negotiation
which need not be unduly hurried but
which should be carried out carefully and
thoughtfully." If this attitude comes to
dominate the thinking of the other lead
erS of the Arabs, then an eventual settle
ment, satisfactory to both sides, ought to
be not only possible but probable as we'll.
1t would be wishful in the extreme, how
ever to expect the completion OF such q
settlement at an early date. As empha-
sized few days ago by Count Folke
Bernadotte, the U. N. mediator, the new
truce-though of great importance-must
be regarded as no more than q FIRST step"
toward permanent solution. The hardest
part of the peace-making task still lies
ahead. What must be reconcied are two
diametrically opposed positions-Q) the
Zionists' burning desire for separate
state in partitioned Palestine, and (2)
the Arabs not less passionate or sincere
insistence on single state dominated by
themselves.
To achieve compromise here, to work
out settlement setting up a separate
Jewish state and at the same time ending
what the British have called the "in-
sufficiently appreciated" Arab fear OF par
tition, will be anything but easy. In all
probability, the U. N. mediation effort will
be protracted one, and it will get no.
where unless the Jews, as we'll as the
Arabs, are willing to make important qud-
pro-quo conceSSions-conceSSion leading
to the kind of peace under which both
peoples will be able to live and prosper to-
gether and feel mutually secure.
Self-evidently such a peace cannot be
achieved overnight. But the new truce
II 1t continues unbroken in keeping with
the Security Councils order-will create
an atmosphere in which the voices of
reason and good will will have a chance to
be heard. Primarily, although the United
Nations has vital role to play the
problems solution Is up to the Arabs and
Jews themselves. The issues that divide
them can be settled without violence If
they sincerely will 1t that way.