Israel Ambassador Urges U.N. to Stem Soviet Anti-jewish Discrimination

Israel Ambassador Avraham Harman said today in a radio-TV interview conducted by Senator Kenneth B. Keating, New York Republican, that “speedy examination” by the United Nations Human Rights Commission should be made to stem Soviet anti-Semitism.

Noting the need for focusing international opinion on the Soviet Jewish problem, Mr. Harman said that the Human Rights Commission has drafted a declaration of racial discrimination but still has to consider the whole question of religious discrimination.

The ambassador said “a very great purpose would be served by a speedy examination of this by the Human Rights Commission and, subsequently, by the General Assembly.” He thought such an effort could “fix attention on all aspects of religious discrimination” since various religious minorities in different parts of the world are victimized by bias.

The ambassador commented on the current Near Eastern situation stating there could be no purpose in the continuing Egyptian rocket development “except an aggressive one.” He said Egyptian persistence in this aggressive build-up made necessary “a countervailing capacity” in the hands of Israel to serve as a deterrent. He added that this would cause Egyptian hesitation “before pushing the button.”

Outlining steps to facilitate an Arab-Israel settlement, Mr. Harman asked that the world make clear that Arab aggression against Israel will not be tolerated, that issues be resolved only by peaceful negotiation consistent with the United Nations Charter, and that any Arab arms build-up be balanced. He said these steps would create a climate that would lead the Arabs to conclude that the policy of eliminating Israel by force is unrealistic.”