B’nai B’rith tonight called for a “clear and firm” policy statement by the United States that it will not tolerate aggression in the Middle East. “American policy can be as persuasive a factor in Middle East developments as President Nasser’s pan-Arabism,” Label A. Katz, president of the organization, said in a speech here.
“A declaration by Washington that our Government will not countenance acts or designs of aggression against the sovereignty of Middle East nations can be a strong deterrent to the rising threat of armed conflict there,” he declared. He also urged that the United States, “in our own interests and in the interests of international peace,” do everything necessary to assist Israel to maintain a strong defensive military posture.
“There should be no need to belabor the obvious that Israel is wholly committed to the West and that its military strength has thus far been the single, most effective deterrent to aggression,” the B’nai B’rith leader said. He addressed 1,800 persons at the annual convention of B’nai B’rith District 3, a regional component of the organization covering New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia.
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