The Israel Cabinet today heard a report by Premier David Ben Gurion on the political situation and a review of the latest international developments concerning Israel. It is assumed that the major part of today’s session of the Cabinet was devoted to discussions of Eisenhower’ s plan for the Middle East.
While official circles maintain complete silence with regard to the governments reaction to the Eisenhower Doctrine, the consensus of well-informed circles is that the government does not regard the Eisenhower plan as advancing Arab-Israel rapprochement. Some circles feel it retards the solution of the Arab-Israel problem.
The afternoon press today predicted a cabinet crisis in the event Premier Ben Gurion presses for the acceptance of the Eisenhower plan. The left-wing members of the coalition Cabinet have reportedly served notice that they would regard such acceptance as running counter to Israel’s policy of non-alignment with either East or West, which is the cornerstone of the coalition government agreement.
The determined reluctance of Israeli official spokesmen to comment on the new Eisenhower program for the Middle East is believed to be caused by more than caution dictated by a lack of the full details of the plan. It is believed here that when the operative portions of the doctrine are officially presented to Israel and the other governments of the region they will have to make far-reaching decisions of principle
It is not impossible that implementation of the program includes certain parts not yet disclosed, but representing considerable change in approach since the “Middle East Defense Organization,” the last Middle East security plan directly involving the United States.
Generally. Israelis seem to favor the principle of stopping Soviet penetration of the area, as well as offering large-scale assistance in development of the Middle East. It is felt, however, that shipment of Soviet arms to the countries of the region represents the most dangerous form of Soviet penetration and that any effective plan must halt this trend.
The Israeli press, reflecting the general attitude in the country, has adopted a reserved attitude toward the President’s proposals, although some newspapers such as the Jerusalem Post attempt to underscore the most favorable features. Several papers expressed the view that the aid plan would result in financing Arab projects aimed at Israel and that adherence to United Nations leadership as visualized in the President’s proposal, would leave the USSR in a position to influence the area.
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.
