The Fight for Negeb

The late Count Bernadotte's proposal to turn Negeb over to Egypt has indirectly resulted in new outbreaks of violence in the Near East. Such reactions to new proposals make it more apparent than ever that the United Nations should revert to the less distasteful original partition plan, or face the certainty of continued war.

The Negeb crisis lights up once more the Security Council's failure to assert itself. Although the Council has suggested that Arab and Jewish forces cease fighting, it made no strong resolution to carry out the move.

So far the Council has been reluctant to use force in Palestine. The United Nations charter does not allow the use of force in upholding political decisions--in this case, partition--but it does specifically entitle the Security Council to enlist armed troops for maintaining international peace. A police force would presumably draw upon manpower from several nations; up to now, no one in the Council has been able to agree which ones. The Western Powers are wary of letting Russian troops into the Near East; but they are unwilling to employ their own forces and risk straining economic relations with the Arab states. Unfortunately, there also seems to be political considerations; the United States delegation apparently is delaying action until after the November elections, for fear of antagonizing pro-Arab and pro-Jewish groups.

Speed is essential. The United Nations must send troops into Palestine to keep the peace. But its responsibility does not stop there. Taking advantage of the arms embargo on Israel, the Arabs would welcomes a chance for unmolested rearmament. The longer such a truce lasted without settlement, the closer would be the danger of total war in the Near East. Once the Security Council has forcibly established order, it must stop stalling and come quickly to a satisfactory permanent solution.