Israel Government Criticized and Defended in Parliament on Transjordan’s Annexation

A general debate on Transjordan’s annexation of the Arab part of Palestine opened in the Israel Parliament today with opposition parties from the right and the left attacking the government.

Leading off for the left-wing Socialist Mapam Party, M. Bar-Yehuda demanded that the Knesset refuse to recognize King Abdullah’s move, that it break off negotiations with Transjordan until the annexation is annulled, and that the Israel Government cite the Transjordan move before the United Nations and its Security Council as a threat to the peace of the world, the Near East and Israel.

Mr. Bar-Yehuda charged that “the King of a state which calls itself Jordania announced the annexation and Britain announced her return to Palestine.” These acts, he continued, “are signs of the impending third World War which is now in preparation on our shoulders.” Other signs, he said, included the British shipment of modern offensive weapons to the Arab states.

The Mapam deputy also criticized the government for its “strange procedure” in not prefacing the debate with a statement of policy. When he finished speaking Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett announced that the government was deliberately withholding its statement in order to first obtain the views of the various parties, but that it reserved the right to enter the debate at any time.

MAPAI DEPUTY OPPOSES ISRAEL’S TERRITORIAL EXPANSION

Right-wing opposition was voiced by Herut Party leader Menahem Beigin who charged the government with encouraging King Abdullah in his annexation move. He asserted that Israel had nothing to gain from the current situation, adding that it could smash Abdullah’s army of 15,000 men if he resumed hostilities over Israel’s refusal to recognize his territorial acquisition. “If Abdullah’s masters are resolved to wage war against us what is the value of a treaty signed with him?” he queried.

An authoritative statement was made for the pro-government Mapai Party by Zalman Aharonovitz, chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, who asserted that “the establishment of an independent Arab state in the rest of Palestine would be an economic parasite on our body, enabling the Mufti to rise to power and strengthening the Arab League and Egypt.” He also spoke against expansion by Israel in the direction of the Arab parts of Palestine, warning that “expansion now means the destruction of the Third Temple.”

Both Mr. Aharonovitz and Pincas Lubianikaer, another leading Mapai member, opposed the Mapam’s suggestion that Israel appeal to the U.N. Security Council against Tranjordan’s move. In this they were supported by Dr. Joseph Burg, representing the Poale Mizrachi.

Yosef Saphir, General Zionist leader, stated that his party is opposed to Abdullah’s annexation of Palestine territory and demanded that the Israel Government proclaim that it does not recognize the move. Meir Wilner, Communist deputy, also opposed the annexation.