High Official Stresses U.S. Concern over Terrorist Attacks on Israel

A high State Department official said today that the United States Government has “of course been greatly concerned by the terrorist attacks on Israel over the course of the past two years.” He made it known that Secretary of State Dean Rusk would consider a suggestion by the Jewish War Veterans that the United States issue an up-to-date policy statement to clarify the American position on the threatened Arab “liberation war” against Israel.

Rodger P. Davies, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, wrote to JWV national commander Malcolm A. Tarlov at the personal request of Secretary Rusk. He said that, “of all the Arab states bordering Israel, only Syria appears to have encouraged the terrorist organizations.” Mr. Davies, however, sought to minimize the danger from the terrorist groups. He said that “reports of the exact relationships that Ahmed Shukairy and his followers within the Palestine Liberation Organization may have or wish to appear to have, with nations such as Communist China are still murky and vague.”

Mr. Davies reviewed a series of past expressions by President Johnson, Vice-President Humphrey, and Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg, pertaining to the Israeli security situation. He added” Under the circumstances, I think there should be no cause for any government or group in the Near East to doubt our determination as expressed in such a variety of public statements. The Secretary will nevertheless keep your suggestion of a further public statement under consideration as the situation develops.”