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Hamilton Fish, Former Isolationist; Defends Israel’s Right to Armed Defense

January 27, 1970
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Former New York Congressman Hamilton Fish who was a leader in the 1930’s of the isolationist movement “America First,” called upon President Nixon, Secretary of State William P. Rogers, and Congress to preserve Israel and recognize its right to exist through armed defense. Fish, who was the author of the American Balfour Resolution adopted by Congress in 1922, urged support of Israel’s existence “against the open and brazen efforts of Soviet Russia to arm all one party Socialist totalitarian Arab nations for the purpose of destroying the free State of Israel.” He stated that as long as Moscow seeks to dominate the Arab nations “the United States should supply needed armaments to Israel to preserve its independence” and added that “there is no substitute for freedom and it is not negotiable.” Fish also assailed the sale by France of 100 combat airplanes to Libya. Noting that he recently visited Israel. Fish declared: “Israel is not asking for men or for volunteers but only for the right to buy armaments to defend her independence and security until the different Arab nations agree to definite peace terms with her.”

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