To a crowd of more than 20,000 people here yesterday, in a demonstration of solidarity with Israel, Sen. Charles E. Percy, Rep., III., proclaimed that he would not give up a square inch of the territory so hard-won by the people of Israel, unless and until a settlement guaranteed the peace of the Middle East, and guaranteed Israel’s new borders which he said were more geographically defensible.
“This settlement,” he said, “must guarantee Israel the full use of the Suez Canal. This settlement must guarantee Israel the full use of the Gulf of Akaba and the Strait of Tiran. Above all, this settlement must gain for Israel, the recognition by the Arab states of Israel’s sovereignty. Any settlement which does not include Arab recognition of the existence and sovereignty of Israel will be worthless in the long run,” the Senator said.
The rally was sponsored by the Illinois Conference of Jewish Organizations, representing 60 of the major national and local Jewish organizations. A resolution drafted by the Illinois Conference called on “the President and the Government of the United States, in the interests of the United States and peace in the Middle East, to encourage face-to-face talks between Israel and the Arab states.”
The resolution also called on the President and the Government to “reject any plans for a truce, armistice or other temporary arrangement which would prevent attainment of a just and durable peace. Israel must not be forced to abandon its positions.” The resolution also urged the United States Government to remove immediately any restrictions on travel of American citizens to Israel.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
