An immediate increase in United States economic aid to Israel was demanded by New York’s Mayor Robert F. Wagner at a testimonial dinner given in his honor tonight by the Greater New York Committee for the Israel Bond Drive. The dinner was attended by 700 persons who bought $500,000 worth of Israel Bonds.
The Mayor declared that “we are fortunate indeed that we can now and in the future look to Israel as a beachhead of democracy” in the Middle East. “It is not enough for the United States to indicate its friendship for Israel at rather infrequent moments,” he insisted. “What is needed is concrete action.” The Mayor, to whom an award was presented at the dinner, called upon the United States Government for “immediate financial help in increased measure” for Israel.
Israel Ambassador Abba Eban, speaking at the dinner, stressed the danger of the Arab states’ recent activities. “A series of recent steps have shown that the Arab states have the clear intention to undermine the armistice agreements,” he said, citing the Egyptian blockade of the Suez Canal as one such act. Joining the plea for urgent support of Israel were W. Averell Harriman, Senator Herbert H. Lehman, Henry Morgenthau and Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, honorary chairmen of the dinner.
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