Hadassah Conference Asks U.S. Senate to Ratify Genocide Convention

The United States Senate was asked today “to take prompt action” in ratifying the Genocide Convention outlawing mass-annihilation of human beings as was the case with Hitler’s mass-killing of Jews. The Convention was passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. It has been ratified by 65 nations, but not as yet by the United States.

The appeal to the Senate was made in a resolution adopted today at the four-day Hadassah conference attended by 200 delegates from all parts of the country. The resolution emphasized that “the failure of the United States to ratify the Genocide Convention is inconsistent with the U. S. position of leadership in the Free World.”

At an earlier session the conference was addressed by Ambassador Michael Comay, permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations. He told the delegates; “Israel still lives in a situation where our borders do not touch one inch of friendly soil–a kind of twilight zone, hot peace or war. There are more Ilyushin bombers 10 minutes away from Israel than there ever were in Cuba. There is an Egyptian Army of 20, 000 outside of its own borders–in Yemen. This Egyptian force in Yemen is larger than the whole United Nations force in the Congo. No one is excited by this action by a leader the United States has befriended.”

The Israel Ambassador declared that the Arab representatives no longer talk about the Arab refugees as a refugee problem. “It is presented to persuade outside opinion, particularly African opinion, that this is a Palestine people in exile, demanding its return, ” he said. “The solution of the refugee problem must be consistent with our sovereignty and our security. Israel must be strong enough not only to meet any attack but to deter any attack, ” he stressed, adding that he believes this principle motivated the United States to make available the Hawk missile to Israel.