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Eban Says Russia is Main Enemy of Mideast Peace; Warns of Mounting Attacks on Jews

March 5, 1970
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Foreign Minister Abba Eban called the Soviet Union “the main obstacle to peace” in the Middle East today and said that Moscow was aiming a “double-barreled attack” against the Jews. He said the attack consisted of military and political support for Israel’s enemies and suppression of Soviet Jewry. Mr. Eban addressed the Knesset on his return from a recent visit to four West European countries and Britain. He called the Soviet Union the “prime mover” behind the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and said it was once again inciting the Arabs–notably Egypt and Syria–to aggression.

Mr. Eban said the Soviet Union vetoed Four Power action to restore the cease-fire and encouraged Arab terrorist organizations by characterizing them as “liberation movements.” At the same time, he said, Israel is being compared to the self-same Nazis at whose hands Jews suffered more than any other people. Mr. Eban met with United States Ambassador Walworth Barbour last night. According to reliable reports he expressed Israel’s alarm over increasing terrorist activities from across the Lebanese border. He reportedly told Mr. Barbour that Israel considers the situation serious. Government sources said today that no reply has been received from the United States so far on Israel’s request to purchase additional Phantom and Sky hawk jets.

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