Arthur J. Goldberg declared last night be did not think the Nixon Administration is unfriendly to Israel despite impressions that a change in policy is taking place. “I don’t think we should come to the conclusion,” he told 500 Jewish leaders at an Israel Bond Organization conference, “I don’t see any necessity for changing that policy and I want to express the hope that it will not be changed,” Goldberg said in what he termed an extension of his remarks from an earlier prepared text. “The task of this country is to preserve our position with no hostility to anyone in the area and use diplomatic effort to get the two sides in the conflict to make peace with dignity and justice.”
Goldberg noted that concern has been expressed by many in this country, Jews and non-Jews, that “our government has determined to pursue a more ‘even-handed’ policy than it pursued in 1967 and 1968.” Goldberg, who was ambassador to the UN during that period, said he rejects “categorically the implication hat our government’s policy toward the Middle East during the period of my tenure at the United Nations was in any way one-sided.”
He added, “we must say plainly, that as a nation we were unprepared to defend Israel” during the Six-Day War period. “We gave it sympathy and tea at the UN but didn’t go beyond it.” Goldberg expressed confidence that the American people now “are not willing to abandon their first commitment that Israel has the right to national sovereignty for the illusory price of currying favor with those states which level the charge of ‘one-sidedness.'”
SAPIR SAYS LARGE ISRAELI DEFENSE BUDGET UNAVOIDABLE
Israel’s Minister of Finance Pinhas Sapir told the conference that Israel’s growing productivity during the past decade had developed to a point where “we could have obtained economic independence while at the same time absorbing a steady flow of immigration.” But, vast and ever-increasing security budgets “have delayed the attainment of this goal.” Sapir noted that the defense expenditure in Israel’s 1970 budget will amount to forty percent of the total amount. “We have no choice. We must do this because it is the one thing that separates us from destruction,” he said. “This drain on our resources becomes bigger and bigger and is reflected in the growing deficit in our balance of payment. Sixty percent of this deficit is caused by military expenditures.”
The Finance Minister said Israel’s prime need is “immigration and economic development.” The two are intertwined because “economic development is needed not only for the new immigrants but also for the pursuit of our own economic independence.” In 1970 Sapir noted, immigration to Israel is expected to reach more than 60,000 from all parts of the world. “Israel has shown that we can maintain our military and political positions while, at the same time, moving ahead with the building of a strong Israel which alone is the guarantee for peace and political integrity,” Sapir said. Asking rhetorically how long Israel can bear up under military attacks and terrorism Sapir answered: “As long as may be necessary, till peace comes.” He added that President Nasser has been “obliged to tell his people that Egypt and other Arab states will have to brace themselves for a long war of attrition.”
NEW GOALS FOR ISRAEL BONDS IN 1970
Israel Bonds will seek $250 million in the United States and Canada in 1970 for economic development projects in Israel. This figure was disclosed at today’s morning session which concluded the three-day conference. This goal, which represents an almost $100 million increase over total bond sales in 1969, was not officially announced but it is expected that the national bonds convention scheduled in Miami at the end of February will confirm that figure. Yigal Allon will address that meeting.
At Friday’s session of the Conference, Louis H. Boyar, chairman of the board of governors, reported that $159,041,750 bonds were sold last year. This, he said, represented “a record for any year in the history” of the bond drives with the exception of 1967 “when Israel’s Six-Day War stimulated an outpouring of unprecedented support from Jewish communities throughout the world.” The three-day conference which began Friday ended today.
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