Israel’s Levy, at U.N., Urges Arabs to Halt Arms Race
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UNITED NATIONS — Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy on Wednesday appealed to Arab leaders to halt the arms race and embark on the path of peace with the Jewish state on what he called the eve of a Middle East peace conference.
As Levy began speaking before the U.N. General Assembly, a number of Arab representatives left the assembly hall, in accordance with their longstanding practice of walking out when Israel takes the floor. One of the assembly’s vice presidents, Italian Ambassador Vieri Traxler, was in the chair usually occupied by Assembly President Samir Shihabi of Saudi Arabia.
“At the eve of the convening of a regional peace conference in our area, I appeal from this rostrum to the leaders of the Arab states: stop the insane race for destructive weapons; abandon destructive impulses and put an end to blind hatred,” Levy said.
He said Israel hopes to be meeting face to face with its Arab adversaries in a few weeks under a U.S.-sponsored plan for a Middle East peace conference.
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