Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Kennedy Says Arab-israel War Must End; Pledges to Seek Peace Talks

August 19, 1960
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

The importance of bringing about an Arab-Israel conference for the purpose of achieving peace, as well as of taking immediate steps to eliminate Arab discrimination against American Jews, was emphasized by Senator John F. Kennedy, Democratic Presidential nominee, in a letter addressed to Dr. Israel Goldstein, Zionist leader who is also honorary vice president of the Liberal Party. He pledged to work in this direction.

“The central, overriding problem in the Middle East is the problem of achieving peace in the area,” he wrote. “The persistence of the Arab states in maintaining a ‘state of war’ against Israel is clearly the cause of their discriminations.

“The starting point, therefore, for an effective, realistic American policy designed to preserve peace and extend the free way of life in the Middle East is to come to grips with this threshold obstacle. American diplomacy must be directed to ending the ‘state of war’ in the Middle East, and this undertaking should have a very high priority in a Democratic Administration.”

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement