American Arms for Israel Proposed at Democratic National Convention

A platform plank pledging defensive arms to Israel was proposed today before the resolutions committee of the Democratic National Convention in the name of 91 Democratic members of Congress. The current policy of the United States Government of failing to provide such arms to Israel was sharply criticized at the committee hearing. The proposed plank, submitted for the group by Rep. Thomas J. Dodd of Connecticut, read:

“We shall strive to avert war in the Near East by vigorous leadership in the UN, by strengthening our commitments in the 1950 Tripartite Declaration, by security treaties to give effect to that declaration and by making defensive arms available to Israel to enable her to defend herself from the Communist weapons which now form a steel ring around her frontiers.

“We will not countenance boycotts and blockades in the Near East which deepen conflict there, which violate the UN armistice agreements and the principles of the UN Charter, and which interfere with the rights of American citizens.

“As a true friend of both the peoples of Israel and the Arab countries, we shall encourage all the people of the region to concentrate their energies and resources, not on military pursuits but on economic development and technical cooperation to raise living standards, to utilize water and land resources, to remove the causes of tension and unrest, and to strengthen democratic institutions.

“We shall foster and support an effective humanitarian program for the resettlement of the Arab refugees. We shall work both in and outside the UN to promote negotiations between Israel and the Arab states to bring about an Arab-Israel peace settlement based on mutual agreement.

“We will not condone any practices by any government which discriminate against the rights of American citizens on the ground of race or religion, and we will oppose any agreement which in any way sanctions or permits such practices.”

ADMINISTRATION ACCUSED OF TOLERATING BOYCOTTS AGAINST U.S. JEWS

The 91 Democrats accused the Eisenhower Administration of failing to promote Arab-Israel peace, abandoning impartiality, falling to distinguish between those who stand for peace and those who stand for war. The Administration was said to have “ceased to advocate direct negotiations for a peace settlement but led the Arab states to believe that our government would back their demands for concessions by Israel.”

The Administration was accused by the 91 Democrats of “tolerating and condoning blockades and boycotts which were aimed both against Israel and against American citizens and commerce, and which violated the principles and decisions of the UN.” Also, of failing to carry out the commitments contained in the Tripartite Declaration of 1950 and of furnishing arms to Arab states while rejecting Israel’s plea for similar weapons. (See page 3 for a statement of 10 Jewish organizations before the resolutions committee of the Democratic convention.)

I.L. Kenen, executive director of the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs, told the resolutions committee that Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser “will not hesitate to attack Israel if this is necessary to dominate the Arab world.” Mr. Kenen urged direct Israel-Arab negotiations, security treaties guaranteeing existing UN armistice lines, arms to Israel, continued international aid for the resettlement of Arab refugees in Arab countries and economic development.

Rep. Emanuel Celler said before the committee that a great deal of blame for the Suez debacle must be laid on the Republican leadership which, he said, urged the British to appease Nasser. Chairman John W. McCormack of the resolutions committee commented on the Suez crisis, stating “he was worried about the fate of Israel” Rep. McCormack is House Majority Leader.

It was predicted here today that the Democratic foreign policy plank would include a promise to provide Israel with arms to redress a “dangerous imbalance” now favoring Soviet-supported Arab states. It will promise economic assistance also to both Israel and the Arabs.