Israel’s bid for a trade arrangement with the European Common Market is a challenge to Western Europe’s moral responsibilities to Israel, Premier Levi Eshkol asserted today.
He made the statement in a radio interview on a special French radio program beamed to Europe, Canada and French-speaking African countries. The program, which was staged in connection with International Radio Week, also featured interviews with United Nations Secretary General U Thant, U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Algeria President Ahmed Ben Bella.
Premier Eshkol emphasized that Israel imported twice as much from the six Euro-mart nations as it exported to them and that Israel had aright to expect that this should be considered.
After months of negotiations, Euromart negotiators rejected Israel’s request for special trade agreements covering its exports to Euromart countries and offered only some minor concessions on three relatively trivial Israeli exports, a proposal Israel rejected. Renewed talks remain to be arranged.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.