There is no proposal before the Israel Cabinet concerning future diplomatic relations between the Jewish State and Germany, Premier Moshe Sharett told Parliament last night at the conclusion of its foreign policy debate. At the same time, the Premier expressed satisfaction with the way the German reparations pact was working out.
Replying to criticism from the rightist Herut and the left Socialist Mapam over the government’s granting five German social scientists entry into the country to attend an international social security conference, the Premier pointed out that Israel must either be prepared to participate in all world conferences and must in its turn play host to delegations from all countries, or must choose the path of the Arab nations who stay out of many international gatherings because they will not admit Jewish delegates to conferences held on their soil.
To criticism from the left against the government’s recent refusal to permit a delegation from the Soviet Union to enter Israel to participate in a pro-Soviet congress, Mr. Sharett pointed out that the only Israelis allowed into the USSR were official guests of the government, Israel, he said, followed a similar policy with regard to Soviet citizens and therefore would not allow this group, which had not been invited by the government, to enter.
MOSCOW MUM ON ISRAEL’S OFFER OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE
He reported that an official Russian delegation had been invited to visit Israel as guests of the government, but no reply had been received. He disclosed that a proposal for the establishment of a cultural exchange had also not been answered by Moscow.
Returning to the problems raised by the network of pacts being built up with and among the Arab states surrounding Israel, the Premier stated that Israel had no desire to force its way into an alliance with unwilling partners. He said Israel, conscious of its uniqueness in the Middle East, had no desire to be swallowed up in the present network of alliances. He said that even peace with the Arab States will not end this uniqueness.
Mr. Sharett stressed, however, that Israel was interested in reaching an understanding with the world powers who have a deep influence in the Middle East and who have a “deep community of ideas” in common with Israel, on the question of Israel’s security and status in the region and the responsibilities devolving upon those power: in this respect.
In reply to criticism of the government’s release of frozen Arab assets in Israel without prior arrangement for release of Jewish accounts in Arab countries, the Premier said Israel is preparing a detailed account of all monies and securities frozen in Iraq and is taking steps to collect this account.
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