As people throughout Israel and the Arab world reacted - officially and unofficially - to King Hussein's proposal for a new United Arab Kingdom formed of Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank of the River Jordan, Israel's Prime Minister, Mrs. Golda Meir, left no doubts as to her country's reaction. In a speech today (Thursday) to the Knesset (Parliament) in Jerusalem, she officially rejected the proposal because, she said, "any attempt to reach a constructive solution will fail if it is not carried out through free negotiations with Israel". Then, anticipating allegations that the federation plan had prior Israeli consent, she added: "The whole proposal is a surprise of its author and it is ridiculous to create an impression that it was an agreed plan.... with Israel. Such declarations or moves made unilaterally will not advance Jordan one single step towards peace."
SYNOPSIS: People in the Old City of Jerusalem cluster around radio sets to hear King Hussein of Jordan speak of his proposal for a new United Arab Kingdom, incorporating the Israeli-occupied West Bank of the River Jordan. Reactions throughout Israel and the Arab world have been mixed. One man deeply concerned with the matter was not making any public statements -- Israel's Defence Minister Moshe Dayan took the opportunity of visiting Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, at the time of King Hussein speech. Some observers feel that - since the area is not within his Ministry's control - it might have been the General's way of simply reminding King Hussein, and everybody else, that Jerusalem was Israel and will remain Israel.

But in Israel's Parliament on Tuesday, Prim Minister Golda Meir, left on doubts as to her country's official reaction to the proposals. She categorically rejected King Hussein's plan. And, anticipating allegations that Israel had entered into prior negotiations, she added: "The whole proposal was a surprise of its author and it is ridiculous to create an impression that it was an agreed plan with Israel. Such declarations or moves made unilaterally will not advance Jordan one single step towards peace."