Britain is in constant touch with the United States on questions affecting Middle East security, Minister of State Kenneth Younger told Parliament today.
A private exchange of views between members of the Israel Parliamentary delegation visiting Britain and “many important people” in England took place last week over the problems of Israel and Middle East defense, Pinkas Lubianiker, Mapai leader and spokesman for the delegation, today told a press conference.
Mr. Lubianiker did not specify the details of the exchanges. He said that such questions had not been discussed officially during the various receptions tandered the delegation. He likened Israel’s war of liberation to the “Battle of Britain” against Hitler, pointing out that in both instances a smaller force with inferior armament held off aggressors because of the determination of an entire people not to be beaten. This, he added, would again be the determining factor in any war in which Israel was involved.
His remarks were supplemented by Yitzhak Ben Aharon, Mapam member of the delegation, who added that al though morals was the chief factor in such a situation the matter of arms is also very important. He declared that the entire Israel population is united in the demand that an end be made of the Near East arms race in which only Israel is left out of the picture. What the Israel people want, he said, is primarily to halt the shipment of arms to the Arab states as long as they persist in their refusal to conclude a peace. The second demand of the Israelis is for the supplying of the Jewish state with defensive weapons.
ISRAEL PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATES IN LONDON DIFFER ON NEUTRALITY
Mr. Ben Aharon asserted that Israel’s neutrality in another world war “is not only practicable but is the only line of survival” for the Jewish state. At this point Mr. Lubianiker broke in to add that all groups in Israel are united in the belief that everything must be done to preserve world peace. But Israel’s policy of non-identification with either Big Power bloc does not mean “neutrality between good and evil,” he stressed.
Mr. Lubianiker also denied that Israel’s financial dependence on the United States subjects the Jewish state to political pressure. This has never been attempted by the U.S., he insisted. He said that during their eight-day visit the members of the delegation had noted a sincere desire in Britain–which he said also exists in Israel–to “turn over a new leaf” in relations between the two countries.
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