Eban Reports at Knesset Session on His Visits to Asian Countries

Israel must take energetic steps to improve its diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with the countries in Asia, many of which are unaware of the Bible or Jewish history but have had long connection with Arab nationalists, Foreign Minister Abba Eban told the Knesset (Parliament) here today.

Mr. Eban talked about the need for cementing Israeli-Asian relations in the course of a long address reporting on his month-long tour of the Far East from which he returned last week. He had visited Japan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Australia and New Zealand. Wherever he had gone, Mr. Eban said, he had been greeted by heads of government, while the press, radio and television services devoted many efforts to picturing present-day Israel in favorable terms.

Noting that most of the Asian countries have been too occupied with their own internal problems to pay much attention to the Middle East, Mr. Eban said Israel “must go out and put herself on their consciousness. ” As a result of his visit, he reported, treaties and agreements between Israel and some of the Asian states will be activated “and given meaning through concrete projects.”