An extremely sharp protest against the economic boycott conducted by the Arab states against Israel was voiced here today at the United Nations General Assembly’s Economic Committee during a major debate on a world-wide economic survey conducted by the UN Economic and Social Council.
Addressing the Economic Committee, Israel delegate Dr. Fanny Ginor outlined Israels economic and social achievements and drew attention to the Arab boycott, emphasizing that the attitude of the Arab states “is obstructive to the international cooperation in economic matters which we all strive to attain.”
“The Arab boycott,” Dr. Ginor declared, “includes boycott of goods produced in Israel, blackmail techniques, air blockade, and blacklisting of ships destined to Israel or on their way from Israeli ports,” The boycott forbids planes flying to or from Israel to fly over Arab territory, “and as a result, certain companies suspended their flights to Israel,” she pointed out.
Dr. Ginor told the committee how, in recent years, the boycott techniques have been expanded to a point of pressure on companies in many countries if those firms are tied to Jewish ownership. She quoted a candid statement issued by the Beirut boycott office, admitting openly that the aims of the boycott are “to sabotage the industrialization of Israel” as well as to obstruct the export of Israeli merchandise.
Despite all difficulties, however, Dr. Ginor reported, Israel’s economy has made tremendous progress. Israel, she said, has admitted some 900,000 immigrants since the state was established. The “real national product” of the country has grown on the average of about 12 percent per year. From 1950 to 1956, national income at fixed prices increased by 86 percent from 1,125,000,000 to 2,090,000,000 Israeli pounds, and real national income per capita rose by 29 percent. Real national output in 1956–despite the Sinai campaign–increased by eight and a half percent.
During the eight-year period 1948-49 to 1956-57, Israel’s agricultural production had more than tripled, the area under cultivation grew by about 125 percent, and area under irrigation increased fourfold. Dr. Ginor stressed. “Industrial production and output per worker also increased at a remarkable pace.” Electric power output increased three and a half times from 1949 to 1956, and the use of electricity by industry grew at the same rate.
“Industrial exports grew three and a half fold,” she continued. “A large number of new factory plants were established and many new products were produced. By systematic exploration various minerals have been found, among them sources of petroleum thus expanding the raw materials basis of industry. Exports have been stepped up three and a half times from 1949 to 1956, and the foreign trade balance deficit per head declined by 65 percent during the same period.”
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