In his first television interview, young King Hussein of Jordan said last night there was no possibility of his country recognizing Israel or entering diplomatic relations with Israel until “all Arab rights in Palestine” were recognized.
Appearing on a filmed interview with Independent Television News, he said the Jordan Army had never been more ready and strong enough to carry out its duties than it was at present. He insisted that Jordan had never depended on British forces to protect or to help it. He said that in 1948 the number of Jordan troops engaged in fighting the new-born State of Israel “did not exceed 4,500.”
King Hussein claimed that the Jordan army had never been defeated. There was no doubt, he said, that Communism had gained “some ground” in the Middle East, which he blamed on “injustices” done to the Arabs by the creation of Israel, as well as on the Arab refugee problem, the Algerian problem and the “shortsightedness” of some Arab ruling classes.
The Jordanian ruler agreed to appear on the program on condition he could see questions and prepare answers in advance. The newscaster who introduced the program said topics which the Jordanian king refused to discuss included dictator Nasser of Egypt, the Eisenhower Doctrine and Russian arms supplies to the Arabs. The newscaster said that Prime Minister David Ben Gurion of Israel, scheduled to appear on the television program Thursday night had agreed to answer all questions put to him.
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.
