The present flow of arms into Syria and Egypt from the Soviet bloc and to other Arab countries from the West, represents a “threat of mounting gravity to the security of Israel, ” Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel’s Foreign Minister, declared here last night at the National Economic Mobilization Conference for Israel Bonds which concluded its three-day session today, launching a drive to raise $75,000,000 in 1957 through the sale of Israel bonds.
“There is growing concern in Israel that the increasing build-up of Soviet arms and planes and technicians on the one hand, and constart provocative propaganda in the press and Arabic language radio from Moscow on the other, may embolden Syria to mount an attack against the State of Israel, ” Mrs. Meir told the 1,200 Jewish leaders who attended the conference. “If, as has recently been pointed out, the Syrian situation constitutes a danger to Turkey, it most certainly representsm less a danger to Israel.
“While our interest is focused on Syria one should not overlook the fact that Egypt too is being armed anew,” she continued. “For the first time submarines have been in troduced into the area. Both Egypt and Syria now in possion of this deadly weapon. Let us also not overlook the shipment of arms from Western sources to our other neigh-tors. The leaders of these countries, too, have not changed in the slightest their expressed intentions to attack and destroy Israel. “
Mrs. Meir pointed out that the present situation has increased Israel’s economic burdens, because the Jewish State must make large expenditures to strengthen its defensive position. However, she emphasized that, despite its intensified security needs, Israel will go forward with its program to receive and absorb 100,000 immigrants this year. “The success of the Israel bond campaign is important, ” she said, “not only to provide homes and jobs for the newcomers but also to overcome the obstacles of the Arab economic boycott and blockade.”
EBAN SAYS U.N. CANNOT REMAIN INDIFFERENT TO ARMS RACE IN MIDDLE EAST
Israel Ambassador Abba Eban, addressing the closing session of the conference today, referred to the dangers facing Israel and added: “It would be an error to speak only of Israel’s perils, grave as they are, and not to recognize any affirmative elements in her security position. Our neighbors would be well advised to adjust their plans to the reality of our growing strength. Nor are we unimpressed by the consistency with which other powers, including the United States, inform us from time of their support for Israel’s independence and integrity.
“But the utterances of Arab leaders, and of others, lead us to doubt whether they have a clear or realistic picture of what they would incur by aggression against us, ” Mr. Eban continued. “Thus, even when Western arms shipments to our hostile neighbors are relatively small, they have their psychological dangers. A spiral of armament is in full progress in our region while its needs for economic progress are sadly neglected, In discussing the general theme of disarmament, the United Nations cannot shut its eyes to the explosive arms competition in our region.”
Asserting that “the success of the Israel bond enterprise has never been more vital than today, ” Ambassador Eban stressed that “it would be a tragic irony if the preoccupation with Israel’s security were to weaken the effort on behalf of her economic progress. If Israel’s economy is sound and strong, she will not fall to find ways of reinforcing her defensive strength, “he declared.”
1,000,000 AMERICANS HAVE BOUGHT ISRAEL BONDS, DR. SCHWARTZ REPORTS
Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, vice president of the Israel Bond Organization reported that more than 1,000,000 Americans have bought Israel bonds since the inception of the bond drive in 1951. Since that time Israel bond sales have topped $300,000,000.
Abraham Feinberg, president of the Israel Bond Organization, stressed the importance of selling Israel bonds to expand the country’s export trade. Such aid to Israel’s economy, he said, would help Israel to overcome the “stumbling block” of the Arab economic boycott. “Despite the Arab boycott and the Arab blockade, Israel’s export trade this year will reach the record figure of $200, 000,000 as compared with the figure of $105,000,000 in 1956, ” he stated.
Herbert R. Abeles, president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, warned the delegates that “Israel’s needs cannot be conceived in terms of year-to-year emergencies.” Supporters of Israel’s economic upbuilding must not become complacent, he asserted, nor must they fail to meet their responsibilities, foremost among them the purchase of Israel bonds. Although Israel’s ultimate goal of economic independence will not be achieved without continued hardship, Mr. Abeles stated, large-scale financial assistance through the Israel bond campaign and other vital efforts will “help achieve that independence as quickly as possible.”
DR. SILVER ASKS RUSSIA TO PERMIT JEWS TO EMIGRATE TO ISRAEL
Because anti-Semitism continues as a serious problem in Soviet Russia, the Jews of that country should be permitted to emigrate to Israel, Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Israel Bond Organization, told the delegates to the conference. “Many hundreds of thousands would be coming to Israel today, especially from Soviet Russia, if the doors of emigration were open to them, ” Dr. Silver said.
“The Jews of Russia have not been granted the national and cultural rights which are granted to other minorities within the Soviet Union, ” the Zionist leader stated. “Four decades of cultural, religious and communal repression, which culminated in the violent Stalinist anti-Semitism, have given many Jews within the Soviet Union a feeling of group insecurity. These Jews should be given the right to emigrate.
Other speakers included Dr. David Horowitz, Governor of the Bank of Israel; Eddie Cantor, who has given outstanding leadership to the Israel Bond effort; and Dr. Renana Ben Gurion, daughter of Israel’s Prime Minister. Samuel Rothberg, formerly national chairman of the Israel Bond Organization, was designated national chairman for trustees of the Israel bond drive. Trustees are those who purchase $10,000 or more in State of Israel bonds. Eddie Cantor was named national chairman of the “Builders of Israel.”
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.
