A bi-partisan call to the Administration to consider the possibility of assuring Israel of arms to defend herself against Arab aggression was voiced here tonight at the closing session of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s two-day conference.
The conference adopted a statement of policy which appealed to President Johnson “for a review of American policy in the Near East–to meet the growing danger which not only threatens a war of extermination against Israel, but also weakens the United States and undermines the security and peace of the free world.”
Congressman Thomas Morgan, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reviewed the role Congress has played in supporting the establishment and economic development of Israel, noting that very often Congressional thinking was ahead of that of the professional diplomats. Rep. Morgan rejected the theory professed by many Government officials in connection with American aid to Nasser that economic aid and surplus food does not contribute to the arms race.
“There is no real difference between economic and military aid, “he said. “It is less than frank to pretend that our economic aid does not bolster the military prowess of the recipient country. Accordingly, we have some misgivings about economic aid to a nation which shops in Moscow for arms.” Noting that aid to Israel has been declining as a result of her economic progress, Congressman Morgan declared: “Nor will we cut aid to Israel if it endangers her existence or encourages those who threaten her.”
Since Israel must divert much of her resources for security because of the concentration of Soviet weapons in the hand of her threatening neighbors, there are two alternatives, he said–either to halt the arms race or “act firmly to prevent an arms imbalance. He pointed out that Congress last year approved an amendment barring American assistance to any country engaging in or preparing for aggression against another recipient of American aid, “That was alternative one. If that alternative cannot be carried out then, manifestly, the Administration should consider the second alternative–make certain that Israel has the arms to defend herself,” he declared.
SENATOR SCOTT URGES U.S. TO GIVE DEFENSE EQUIPMENT TO ISRAEL
The call for American arms to Israel was spelled out even more specifically by Senator Hugh Scott, Pennsylvania Republican, who expressed the hope that President Johnson “will examine the situation again in view of recent clear evidence of Nasser’s expansionist and imperialistic drive that threatens not only Israel but Western positions of strength.”
“First, the United States must stop all aid to Egypt. Secondly, I urge President Johnson to consider the possibility of providing military defense equipment to Israel–as we did in 1962–to offset the dangerous advantage that both U.S. and Soviet aid has given to Egypt,” Sen, Scott declared.
In its statement of policy, the Committee warned of the growing danger created by Arab aggressiveness and expressed concern that “despite this growing threat to the United States and the rest of the free world, the Arab states continue to receive generous economic assistance from the United States.”
Noting that the present Administration reiterated President Kennedy’s commitments to intervene to prevent aggression in the Near East, the policy statement declared that such commitments “will have greater effect if they are reinforced by concrete military aid to strengthen those whose security is imperiled. Israel is in that category.”
The policy statement commended President Johnson’s support of Israel’s water development program, and also declared that “the most feasible solution for the Arab refugees is settlement in Arab lands, which have space and economic opportunity for them.”
The Committee urged the Government to resist vigorously Arab boycott attempts in America, and called attention to the fact that, despite successive pledges by U.S. Administrations, the Suez Canal remains closed to Israeli shipping. In conclusion, the statement urged American initiative for Israel-Arab peace negotiations. “Our country has the obligation to exercise moral leadership in the attainment of an Arab-Israel peace,” the statement stressed.
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.
