Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D. Minn.) predicted last night that the Soviet Union would seek to reduce tensions in the Middle East because of its need for food-and credit from the United States. However, the former Vice-President of the U.S. said in an address at the Annual Awards Dinner of Bnai Zion, the American Zionist fraternal organization, that the major obstacle to improved relations with the Soviet Union is the issue of Soviet Jewry.
“I can assure you that the Congress of the United States is adamant that there can be no ‘most favored nation’ status for the Soviet Union while their emigration is regulated by the existing visa tax,” Humphrey said. The Minnesota lawmaker was the recipient of Bnai Zion’s annual America-Israel Friendship Award in recognition of his services to the furtherance of friendship between the U.S. and Israel. The Gold Medal award was presented to him by Harold Bernstein, president of Bnai Zion.
In a wire from the White House, President Nixon praised Humphrey for his “human compassion and social concern.” President Zalman Shazar of Israel cabled a message congratulating Bnai Zion “on its perceptive choice” of Humphrey as the recipient of this year’s award. He praised the Senator’s “abiding friendship for Israel and the Jewish people.”
Humphrey said in his address that the ceasefire in Vietnam would have a favorable influence on peace prospects in the Middle East. He added that the Soviet Union could play a crucial role in breaking the current Middle East deadlock. “It is in the best interests of the United States to give the Soviet Union all the encouragement it needs so that it can urge its friends in the Middle East to make their position more flexible,” Humphrey declared.
Twelve Arabs from villages in Western Galilee have been detained by police in connection with recent mining incidents in the vicinity of their villages, it was reported yesterday. A mine that exploded under a culvert last week was found to be of Chinese make and equipped with a timer.
The Israeli Students Association has asked the Egyptian Students Association to meet with it to discuss the Middle East situation. The message was conveyed to Cairo by the Asian Students Association. The Israeli students said they want the meeting as a step toward breaking the present Middle East deadlock.
The largest international United Israel Appeal mission to visit Israel arrived in Tel Aviv yesterday for a week-long visit that will include tours of the country and meetings with Premier Golda Meir and top officials of the government and the Jewish Agency. The 350 delegates come from Canada, Belgium, West Germany, Australia, Switzerland, South Africa and other countries.
El Al cancelled all flights today because of a work stoppage by about 120 workshop supervisors that began yesterday afternoon. The supervisors committee refused to accept a Labor Court’s order ordering them back to work. El Al passengers were transferred to other carriers.
Danish police are trying to identify the body of a man they believe may have been an agent from a Mideastern country. The body of the victim, about 35, was found in a woods near Copenhagen last week.
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.
