U.S. Government Urged to Seek Joint Solution for Arab Refugees and Jews in Arab Lands

The suggestion that the U.S. Government insist, through its U.N. representatives, that the plight of the persecuted Jews in Arab countries be resolved jointly with that of the Arab refugees was made here by Rabbi Bernard Bergman, newly-elected president of Hapoel Hamizrachi of America, Orthodox Zionist Labor party, prior to his departure for Israel.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, Dr. Bergman, who is also the editor and publisher of the Jewish Morning Journal, daily Yiddish newspaper, said that “the United Nations, under the leadership of the U.S., must consider the Arab refugees and the situation of the Jews in Arab countries not as two separate problems, but as two aspects of a single problem.” He urged “as the simplest and most logical solution” the immediate transfer to Israel of those Jews who, he said, “are in constant danger of their lives” and the transfer of the Arab refugees to the Arab countries.

S.Z. Shragai, Israeli member of the Jewish Agency executive, addressing the same conference, said that if it were not for the interference of outside forces, the “government of Israel could find a common language with the Arab states and come to peace” with each of them. “Just as the British mandatory regime did its utmost to create dissension between Jews and Arabs, so now certain outside forces, because of private interests, are doing all they can to prevent a peace agreement,” he added.

“It is no secret,” Mr. Shragai stated, “that the Gaza proposition which called for Gaza together with its Arab population being joined to the Jewish state collapsed, thanks to England. We would long ago have found a common language with Transjordan, but for the interference of England. Also, the latest demand of the American Government to Israel has made it even more difficult for the Arab countries to care to peace with Israel.”