Emperor Haile Selassie I, of Ethiopia, may make a “personal religious pilgrimage” to Jerusalem, it was indicated authoritatively here today, after General Moshe Dayan, Israel’s former Chief of Staff of the Defense Forces, and now Minister of Agriculture, met with the Lion of Judah at Addis. Ababa this weekend.
Highest officials, who would neither confirm nor deny the Emperor’s plans to visit here, said merely that the Negus of Ethiopia has “a standing invitation from the Government” to visit here at his pleasure and convenience.
General Dayan, it was revealed, brought to the Emperor a personal letter from Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, as a result of which closer diplomatic relations may be established between Israel and Ethiopia. In the letter, Mr. Ben-Gurion recalled the close ties that have existed between the two countries since Biblical times, expressing the hope that the future relations will be even closer.
The Israeli leader also pointed out in his letter that the center of world interest these days has shifted from the arms race to an increase of development projects for the betterment of every day living for all peoples.
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