A resolution appealing to the State Department "to take decisive action without delay to enable Israel to acquire arms for defense" in view of the danger which the Jewish State faces with the continuing shipment of Soviet military equipment to Egypt, was adopted today at the Hadassah conference here, attended by delegates from 1,200 branches in 48 states. The resolution called upon the State Department "to negotiate forthwith a security treaty with Israel and with such Arab states as are desirous of peace."
A second resolution called upon the United States Government "to take vigorous measures to terminate Arab practices aimed at American Jews. "It pointed out that "Americans dealing with Arab countries have been warned against commerce with Israel and have even been asked to disclose the religious affiliation of employees. American Jews-have-been denied visas to enter Arab countries. Arab diplomats and propagandists have used the public platform to vilify Americans for their friendship for Israel, spreading propaganda injurious to American Jewish citizens and institutions."
In introducing the resolutions, Mrs. Samuel W. Halprin, Hadassah chairman for the Zionist affairs, deplored the statement made yesterday by Secretary of State John F. Dulles to Congressmen advocating arms for Israel. "Although there are many affirmative and friendly allusions to the relationship between the United States and Israel in the statement," she said, "the failure to give a positive answer to legislators seeking to obtain arms for Israel as a counterbalance to the Communist arms pouring into Egypt will not serve to further the cause of peace in the Middle-East-an area in which the Communists are planting the seeds of war. Our 300,000 members will undoubtedly use all their influence in their communities to rally all those dedicated to the cause of peace to support the just demand for defensive arms for Israel as a deterrent to war and aggression," she added.
Mrs. Moses P. Epstein, chairman of Hadassah’s American affairs department, urged the major political parties to include in their campaign platforms "meaningful civil rights planks" designed to safeguard "our traditional freedoms and liberties." She voiced concern at reports that the major parties will seek to sidestep such controversial issues as desegregation, civil liberties and immigration.
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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.
