The population of Israel was told last night by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion that it must be prepared for “economic sacrifices” in order to strengthen the security of the country.
Addressing a meeting of the Mapai, Israel’s Labor Party, Mr. Ben-Gurion said that defense requirement will necessitate the “tightening of the belt” for the Israelis, especially in the light of the recent threatening statements against Israel voiced by the Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.
The Prime Minister told the audience that Israel faces serious danger in view of Nasser’s manuevers to encircle the Jewish state which have received new impetus with his victory in Yemen. (In one of his recent speeches, Nasser declared that “the liberation of Yemen is a step on the road leading to the elimination of Zionism. “)
For the first time in many months Egyptian bands resumed infiltration into Israel this weekend. Two Egyptians were killed in an exchange of fire between them and an Israeli border patrol, it was announced today. The Egyptians were armed with submachine guns and carried radio equipment.
Avraham Harman, Israel’s Ambassador in Washington, is due to arrive here this week. It is assumed that his arrival has to do with the problems discussed by Israel’s Foreign Minister Golda Meir with President Kennedy last month, Israel’s defense problems were said to be among the topics discussed.
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