The Soviet rupture of diplomatic relations with Israel came as something of a surprise, Dr. Shmuel Eliashiv, former Israel Minister to Moscow, declared here last night on his arrival from the Soviet Union. Dr. Eliashiv and other members of the legation staff were met by Israeli envoys here who are making arrangements for their return to the Jewish State.
The Minister said that while it was true that attacks on Israel occurred during the period when the Soviet attitude toward Israel was most favorable, even during the Slansky trial it was not considered that the Russians were preparing such drastic steps. He said the swift Soviet exploitation of the “deplorable” bombing of its legation in Tel Aviv had “thrown new light” on the Soviet policy.
Mr. Eliashiv said that the motives behind the Soviet break were “obscure” and refused to agree that the reported Soviet plans to win over the Arab states were the only, or even the main reason, for the action. He said he could not help feeling that the anti-Zionist campaign was intended to divert attention from domestic difficulties, of which, he asserted, there were many indications.
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