A French Foreign Ministry spokesman today defended Israel and criticized President Eisenhower’s failure to take into account the provocations by the Arabs against Israel.
The spokesman said: “The provocations to which Israel has been subjected explain, if they do not justify, the Israel action.” He emphasized that the British and French would not accept any condemnation of Israel by the United Nations unless the provocations against Israel are taken into account.
“President Eisenhower’s criticism of Israel did not give sufficient weight to the anguish it has suffered at the preparations of the Arab nations against it,” the spokesman said. He referred to Arab plans for a joint Egypt Jordan-Syria high command against Israel.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.