A resolution urging the United States Government to insist upon the integration of Israel into the Middle East defenses was adopted by the executive board of the Congress of Industrial Organization at its session here this week, it was announced today. The resolution reads:
“The Middle East has long constituted a serious gap in the free world’s defenses. Efforts by the United States to create an adequate defense system in this area have been directed solely at the rulers of the Arab states. The democratic State of Israel has been ignored in all of these efforts to build an adequate defense system-despite the obvious fact that no defense of the Middle East from possible totalitarian aggression is possible without the participation of Israel.
“This fact is true in terms of geography, for Israel occupies an important and significant crossroads position. It is equally true from an economic standpoint, for Israel is the only Middle Eastern country with a high degree of industrialization, an advanced technology and a strong and democratic labor organization. In World War II, Israel filled the role of industrial and military workshop for the entire area. It is the only country in the area with the know-how to do this again.
“Israel’s own military forces, while small by American standards, are highly developed and of proven fighting ability. Moreover, Israel has developed a system to mobilize her resources that enables the speedy call-to-the-colors of considerable contingents of well trained men and women. There can be no doubt whatsoever as to the complete devotion of the people of Israel to the ideals and tenets of freedom and democracy.
“American insistence upon Israeli integration into the Middle Eastern defenses will have a decisive influence not only in strengthening the barricades of the free world against Soviet-inspired infiltration or aggression; it might also have a decisive influence in building peace and attitudes of moderation within the Middle East, itself.
“It is obvious that the leaders of the Arab states must recognize reality by facing the fact of Israel’s existence. The inclusion of the democratic State of Israel would help not only the military and economic defense arrangements of the area but would make possible the extension of the democracy’s bastions within the Middle East as a whole. We urge our government to use its influence to achieve the inclusion of the State of Israel in the free world’s Middle Eastern defenses and feel certain such a step will be beneficial to the entire free world.”
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