Israeli Defense Minister Shimon Peres believes that “time is in favor of peace, not war.” Speaking to a group of 200 Israel Bond leaders at a reception at the Waldorf-Astoria Tuesday where $2.3 million in Israel Bonds was sold, Peres predicted that “in ten to fifteen years peace will come” in the Middle East. Peres cautioned that Israel must have “the strength to negotiate and we should negotiate from strength. The stronger Israel becomes, the more Israel has been able to be forthcoming in negotiations.”
Peres said he based his belief that time worked for peace because “war is so costly” and “there are social changes in the Arab world, in the shift of national and social priorities.” He said “Israel’s problem is how to get through these ten to fifteen years and never to lose a war.”
In reporting on his trip to Washington last week, the Defense Minister said: “We would never have the strength to approach the United States unless we turned first to ourselves, to mobilize ourselves militarily and financially. Before approaching the American people for financial help, we first look to ourselves.” Peres reported that “American friendship always surprises us by its depth, devotion and understanding,” He said that “We found Congress as friendly and understanding as ever.” He said that Israel asked for more than $2 billion to equip its army because of escalation of costs in modern weapons, Peres returned today to Israel.
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.
