Keating, Addressing Farband, Calls on U.s.a. to Block Aid to Nasser

Senator Kenneth B. Keating, New York Republican, praised today the role of Israel in keeping the peace in the Middle East, and said the U.S. must block aid to aggressor nations, like Nasser’s Egypt, that would threaten Israel’s existence and thus the peace of the world.

Speaking at the 50th Jubilee Celebration of the Farband Labor Zionist Order at the Waldorf Astoria, the Senator told the more than 2,000 delegates that Arab nationalism and international Communism “are up to no good” in the Middle East. The U.S. and the free world must be doubly alert, he said, in the defense of a stable Israel and its principles of peace and freedom. He warned against the prospect of new turmoil in the Middle East as a result of the recent visit to Cairo by Chou En-Lai, Prime Minister of Communist China.

Other speakers at today’s session were I.L. Kenen, executive director of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee; Louis Segal, general secretary of Farband, who is a member of the Jewish Agency Executive; and Samuel Bonchek, vice-president. Among those delivering addresses of greetings were Leon Kronitz, chairman of the Labor Zionist movement of Canada; William Wolpert, Secretary of the United Hebrew Trades; and Alex Rose, President of the Hat, Cap and Millinery Workers Union, a vice-president of the Liberal Party.

Senator Keating stressed the need for a wise and cautious American foreign aid program stating, “I don’t believe that economic aid should be given as an unconditional gift to all nations. He added that “we must make it absolutely clear, so that there cannot be the slightest chance of a mistake by those who would attack Israel, that such an attack would bring us to the aid of Israel. I have in particular backed the amendment which Congress annually writes in the bill making clear Congress’ disapproval of aid for countries which discriminate against American citizens on the grounds of race and religion.”

“What America does,” he continued, “how we direct our policies in the coming year, how intelligent our State Department is in its approaches, will in great measure decide whether Israel will be able to continue in its course of building a healthy, strong and peaceful life. The contribution that Israel is making to our society, to peace and freedom, is far greater than the size of the nation which is doing so much to bring stability to the whole Middle East. The instability of so many Arab states and the machinations of some of their leaders who are bent on the destruction of Israel are a hazard to world peace.

“Premier Chou En-lai has just completed his conference with Nasser in Cairo. As the Chinese Communist leader goes on to visit the African states we can only steel ourselves to turmoil for the combination of Nasser and those Arab leaders who follow him, together with Chou En-lai, spell serious trouble.

SEGAL REPORTS RAISING $6,360,000 FOR ISRAEL FUNDS, EDUCATION IN AMERICA

A total of $6,360,000 was raised during the current fiscal year ending with the opening of the convention by members and branches of Farband in behalf of Israel funds and educational institutions maintained by the organization in this country, Mr. Segal reported at today’s session on behalf of the National Executive Committee. Of the total raised for Israel funds during the year, he said, $2,250,000 was raised for the United Jewish Appeal; $750,000 for the National Committee for Labor Israel (Histadrut campaign); $300,000 for the Jewish National Fund; and $2,500,000 for Israel Bond sales.

For cultural activities on the American scene, he reported, $400,000 was raised for Farband’s day schools, Jewish Teachers Seminary and People’s University and for various cultural and other institutions; and $160,000 for Farband’s Jubilee Fund. Approximately similar totals were raised by Farband annually for the past 10 years, he stated. He reported that, since the launching of the Israel Bond campaign in 1951, the Farband members sold over $20,000,000 in bonds.

Reporting an annually progressive increase in the membership of Farband, Mr. Segal said that Farband’s insurance in force now totals $18,900,000. He also asserted that Farband was the first to establish full day schools in the United States adding that Farband now maintains more than 50 school units in communities in the United States and Canada including nursery schools, kindergartens, afternoon schools and high schools.

Mr. Kenen told the convention that “the Kennedy Administration took positive action, clearly demonstrating its interest and concern for the development and defense of the peoples of both Israel and the Arab states.”

“Unfortunately.” he stated, “little progress has been made to attain an Arab-Israeli peace. It is to be hoped that President Johnson will continue the constructive elements in past policy. At the same time, we hope that he will reconsider those aspects of U.S. policy which have led Arabs to believe that the U.S. can be neutral as between aggression and defense.”