The Soviet Government yesterday declared that it will give “full support” to the Arab states in the opposition the latter have announced to Israel’s plan to draw Jordan River waters through Lake Tiberias for irrigation of the upper reaches of the Negev Desert.
The affirmation of full USSR support to the Arab states on this issue, coupled with renewed charges that both the United States and Britain are using it as a “beach-head of imperialism,” appeared in the USSR’s Government organ, Izvestia.
Izvestia carried a lengthy article by its Middle East expert, V. Kudriavtzev, analyzing the results of the Arab League summit conference, held in Cairo this month under the auspices of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. The article, hailing Mr. Nasser for calling that conference, declared:
“One can understand the position of the Arab countries which are facing a challenge from the Israeli extremists which are inspired by the imperialist powers. The imperialists don’t want to surrender their oil-rich and strategic positions in the Arab Near East. Israel is now completing its project for diverting the Jordan waters to the Negev. The Arabs are bitter over that project because it will divert waters from the lower Jordan for irrigating the Negev and provide a place in that area for large numbers of immigrants.”
Hailing the “unity” achieved at the Cairo summit conference, the article said:” The Arabs know now that, unless they solve their internal problems, they cannot unite on a common policy against Israel.” The Izvestia writer also asserted that the recent statement of United States policy on the Middle East, made in Washington by U. Alexis Johnson, Deputy Under Secretary of State, “has encouraged Israel and has definitely placed the Washington Administration on the side 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.
