Egypt’s Policy of Aggression Threatens Israel’s Security, Eshkol Says

The danger faced by Israel was emphasized by Levi Eshkol, Israel Minister of Finance, in a statement issued upon his arrival in the United States this week-end.

The Israel Minister expressed “grateful thanks” to the Government and the people of the United States for the economic aid and technical assistance given to the Jewish State He also expressed “deep gratitude” to the Jews in this country for their contributions to the United Jewish Appeal and the purchase of Israel bonds. Mr. Eshkol will address the economic conference of the Israel Bond Organization which opens in Washington next Saturday evening.

“We live in danger, but our efforts continue to be directed toward peaceful development and regional cooperation,” Mr. Eshkol said in his statement” We possess the absolute conviction and utter faith that these efforts will succeed.”

“In the past year,” the statement continued, “our work was made incomparably more difficult by Egypt’s policies of aggression. Egyptian rearmament has presented us with a tangible threat to our security. This threat, which not only imperils our very existence, but also endangers the peace of the area and the entire world, can only be met by corresponding reinforcement of Israel. Egypt’s policies of aggression and domination continue, therefore, to compel us to divert both manpower and resources to defence and preparedness.

“On our part, we are determined to continue our course of concentrating on the development of our country’s economy so as to make possible the continued immigration of tens of thousands of Jews who in their search for human dignity and integration seek haven and home in our midst,” Mr. Eshkol declared. The Israel Minister revealed that 51,000 immigrants entered Israel during the last twelve months.