Pinchas Lavon, Israel’s Defense Minister, rejected accusations against the Western powers and against United Nations observers in Palestine, in the course of a debate last night in the Israel Parliament over the recent Israel-Jordan three-day exchange of shots in Jerusalem.
Mr. Lavon said that what Israel had to do at this time was “not to cut off relations” with the Western Powers, but rather to “recapture their understanding and friendship.” As for the UN observers, he declared: “It suffices for me if I know one observer who spent several years in a German concentration camp for saving Jews not to accuse all observers.”
Israel’s policy today, Mr. Lavon said, “is the same as yesterday’s–we want peace and direct negotiations, but one needs two for negotiations.” The Minister charged that the Arabs had started a worldwide anti-Jewish drive and were attempting to “drag in the Christian world, especially the Vatican, “in their anti-Jewish campaign. He asserted his faith that the Holy See would not assist this “planned devilish drive, ” and would see through the Arab League’s “mean intrigue.”
He warned of the “moral and practical dangers of this drive–the danger to world peace, not only to Israel.” Finally, he summed up by stating: “Israel’s path is clear–the road to peace. Simultaneously, we are ready for the defense of our life, independence and sovereignty.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
