867N.01/6–2748: Telegram
The Consul General at Jerusalem (Macdonald) to the Secretary of State
988. Representative of Israeli Foreign Office in Jerusalem said that Israeli Foreign Minister Shertok in speech in Tel Aviv on June 15 formally stated position of PGI that there can be no mass return of Palestinian Arabs to Israel until general political settlement and end of war. Shertok speech also stated that Arabs could not return except as full citizens Jewish state acknowledging its authority and sovereignty. Reference was also made to screening. Israeli Foreign Office representative Jerusalem indicated this speech does represent stated policy of PGI and as such is shift from previous policy.
Consulate General believes that majority of Arabs now refugees from areas within Israel will never return under conditions and that their bitterness, already deep rooted, will only be increased by PGI statement. So far, however, Palestinian Arabs with whom Consulate General officials have talked have not commented on Shertok’s statement.