Democratic Party Convention Urged to Adopt Stand on Arab-israel Issues

The liberal political organization, Americans for Democratic Action, today called on the Democratic Party Convention–which is taking place this month in Atlantic City–to adopt a platform plank pledging to seek “the recognition by the Arab states that Israel has a right to exist.” At a press conference held in Washington, Joseph L. Rauh, Jr., ADA national vice-chairman, presented the organization’s proposed platform for the Democratic National Convention. The ADA plank for the Middle East stated:

“In the Middle East, we will work for guarantees to insure independence and economic development for all nations. We will press for an equitable solution to the Arab refugee problem, along with a peaceful settlement of all other Arab-Israeli issues. We will insist upon an end to boycotts and blockades against Israel, and unrestricted use of the Suez Canal by all nations. Above all, we shall seek the recognition by the Arab states that Israel has a right to exist.”

The ADA also urged the convention to take a strong stand on liberalization of immigration laws. The proposed ADA plank on this subject declared:

“We pledge ourselves to work for the elimination of the national origins quota system. We shall support a new system based on Democratic principles, such as the reunion of scattered families, the provision of asylum for refugees, and the admission of immigrants according to the talents and skills they bring with them rather than their national origin. We shall put an end to second-class citizenship for naturalized Americans. We shall support legislation enacting due process and judicial review in denaturalization and deportation proceedings.”