A new department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now studying the problem of the Arab boycott against Israel and drafting plans for counteraction, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion reported today to the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament.
He said the plan would be presented to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee when it was ready. Brigadier David Shaltiel, former Ambassador to Mexico, is in charge of the new effort.
The Prime Minister opposed a General Zionist motion to have the problem discussed in the Knesset. He received majority support on his stand when he agreed to place the boycott on the agenda of a closed meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee.
The Prime Minister said he agreed with the view that the boycott was not causing Israel as much damage as was imagined, but that it was damaging and that Israel could not remain passive about the problem for reasons of principle. He added that Israel, as a small country, could not deal effectively by itself with the blockade and would therefore need to act through others.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
