Eshkol Denounces Polish ‘falsehoods,’ Bids Polish Jewry Migrate to Israel

Prime Minister Eshkol said he was shocked today by the exploitation of anti-Semitic feelings for internal political purposes practiced by the ruling Communist Party in Poland. He called on the remaining Jews in Poland to emigrate to Israel. He also expressed hope that Soviet Jewry would soon be granted full cultural and religious freedom.

Mr. Eshkol spoke during a Knesset (Parliament) debate on the budget for the Prime Minister’s office but he covered a wide range of subjects. He declared that Israel holds Jordan fully responsible for acts of sabotage and border clashes and warned the Jordanians that Israel is determined to maintain her security and that they must understand the consequences.

(Ambassador Yosef Tekoah, in a letter to Secretary-General U Thant today which he asked to be distributed to all members of the General Assembly as well as the Security Council, detailed 12 Jordanian cease-fire violations between March 4 and March 15 and formally warned that the Israel Government held the Jordanian Government responsible for them. He said that the violations had “received encouragement and support from Jordanian authorities, including members of the Cabinet.”)

The Prime Minister reiterated that Israel will continue to cooperate with the U.N. Middle East envoy, Ambassador Gunnar Jarring in his efforts to bring both sides together for peace talks but added that Israel will also explore all other possibilities that might lead to negotiations. He said he hoped Dr. Jarring would succeed in his efforts despite Egypt’s intransigence which has reduced his chances.

Referring to the current campaign by the Polish Government and Communist Party to blame “Zionists” and their sympathizers for the wave of student unrest sweeping that country, Mr. Eshkol said it was “a flagrant falsehood” to contend that Jews and Zionists were responsible for internal upheavals.