Allon Tells Presidents Conference New Initiatives Required to Avert New War

Israeli Deputy Premier Yigal Allon told 150 Jewish leaders here yesterday that Egypt’s insistence on regaining every inch of her captured territory, encouraged by pro-Arab sentiments around the world, was making Egypt more stubborn and Israel more worried. In a 50-minute statement followed by 40 minutes of answers to questions, Allon advised representatives of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations that new initiatives were needed to solve the territorial problem and avert another shooting war. But he did not say who should come up with such initiatives. Allon arrived here last night on a speaking tour for the Israel Bond Organization that will take him to Milwaukee, Wis; Newark, N.J.; back to New York; and then to San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Israeli official said at yesterday’s private meeting that the 15-year treaty between Moscow and Cairo represented a Soviet legal claim on Egypt and that Egypt was nearing the status of a Soviet satellite.

The presence of Soviet troops on Egyptian soil, however, will become a provocation to the proud Egyptian populace, Allon suggested. The Kremlin’s promise of further, massive military aid to Egypt has tilted the balance of power and requires immediate and permanent restoration by the United States, Allon said. He explained that Israel was now inferior to Egypt in terms of weaponry, “hardware” and manpower. But he warned that an Egyptian attack would result in another Israeli victory. Repeating an offer made over the weekend by Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban, Allon said Israel was willing to resume diplomatic relations with the Kremlin, but he added that the Soviets have not indicated their interest. Allon criticized the use of violence in demonstrations for Soviet Jewry as counterproductive, calling it a “double-edged sword.” He contended that poverty in Israel was decreasing and that the government was implementing programs to eradicate it.