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Moreover, Justice Arthur Goldberg, <strong>the</strong> United States’ Chief Delegate to <strong>the</strong> United Nations, whowas instrumental in drafting <strong>the</strong> unanimously adopted Resolution 242, has pointed out that:A notable omission in 242 is any reference to Palestinians, a Palestinian state on <strong>the</strong>West Bank or <strong>the</strong> PLO. The resolution addresses <strong>the</strong> objective of “achieving a justsettlement of <strong>the</strong> refugee problem.” This language presumably refers both to Arab andJewish refugees, for about an equal number of each abandoned <strong>the</strong>ir homes as a resultof <strong>the</strong> several wars… 45 * * *Buttressing <strong>the</strong> legal argument supporting rights for Jewish refugees is <strong>the</strong> fact that, in all relevantinternational bilateral or multilateral agreements, <strong>the</strong> reference to “refugees” is generic, allowing for<strong>the</strong> recognition and inclusion of all Middle East refugees – Jews, Christians, and o<strong>the</strong>r minorities.By way of example:The Madrid Peace ConferenceThe 1991 Madrid Peace Conference launched historic, direct negotiations between Israel and manyof its Arab neighbors. The mandate of <strong>the</strong> Refugee Working Group made no distinction betweenPalestinian refugees and Jewish refugees: “The refugee group will consider practical ways ofimproving <strong>the</strong> lot of people throughout <strong>the</strong> region who have been displaced from <strong>the</strong>ir homes.” 46***Israel and some of its Arab neighbors – Egypt, Jordan, and <strong>the</strong> Palestinians – have signed bilateralagreements affirming that a comprehensive solution to <strong>the</strong> Middle East conflict will require a “justsettlement” of <strong>the</strong> “refugee problem.” The case can be made that this language, consistent with UNResolution 242, pertains to both Middle East refugee populations – Arabs and Jews:Israel-Egypt AgreementsThe Camp David Framework for Peace in <strong>the</strong> Middle East of 1978 (<strong>the</strong> “Camp David Accords”)includes, in paragraph A(1)(f), a commitment by Egypt and Israel to “work with each o<strong>the</strong>r andwith o<strong>the</strong>r interested parties to establish agreed procedures for a prompt, just and permanentresolution of <strong>the</strong> implementation of <strong>the</strong> refugee problem.”Israel-Jordan Peace TreatyArticle 8 of <strong>the</strong> Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty (1994), entitled “Refugees and Displaced Persons,”recognizes (para. 1) “<strong>the</strong> massive human problems caused to both Parties by <strong>the</strong> conflict in <strong>the</strong>Middle East.”59

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