A Defense Ministry order to British soldiers assigned to the Arab sheikdoms of the Persian Gulf to remove brand labels of Jewish firms from their clothing and leave behind books by Jewish authors or on Jewish themes has generated public protest. It also drew a reprimand from the Board of Deputies of British Jews and laughter on the floor of the House of Commons.
British Army spokesmen said that the shirt or underwear label of a Jewish firm or one believed controlled by Jews could cause trouble in parts of the Gulf area. Such articles of clothing, together with books by Jewish authors, have been confiscated by local authorities.
The Board of Deputies said in a statement today that if the Arab states wished to look ridiculous in the world’s eyes, it was their concern. “But it seems unfortunate that the Ministry of Defense should have allowed itself to become involved in a matter associated with the anti-Jewish boycott.”
Labor MP Emanuel Shinwell asked for assurances in Commons yesterday that “in any future talks with which the British Government are associated, it must be clearly understood that no Arab from any of the Arab countries will be allowed to interfere with the underpants of a British soldier.” Mr. Shinwell, who was Defense Minister in 1950-51, received no reply but his remark sent a roar of laughter through the House. Another Laborite, Stanley Henig, requested a ministerial statement on the subject.
Defense Ministry officials reported many telephone calls after the order was made public. One woman said, “Don’t forget to tell the chaplains to leave their Bibles behind; they were written partly by Jews.” Joseph Gal, counsellor for economic affairs at the Israel Embassy here, said that many British firms traded with both Israel and the Arab states and continued to do so, despite the Arab boycott. A spokesman for the Egyptian Embassy said all faiths were respected in the Middle East and advised Britons not to “worry about any labels on clothes.”
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