Israel Ambassador Abba Eban told the National Press Club today that Israel has many anxieties but that he does not consider any internal Communist threat among them. He pledged, however, that Israel would fight “invasion from without or subversion from within.”
In response to a question on whether the Communists might seize power in Israel, Mr. Eban replied that, in contrast to some other countries, there was little Communist influence on Israel workers. Asked why the United States should grant economic aid to Israel when that country has a “Socialist” government, Mr. Eban explained that opposition to Communism in Israel is strongest in the Labor organizations which support the governing party.
Mr. Eban refuted charges that Israel is a theocracy. He said that while there is “a common sense of adherence to Jewish culture,” there is “no statutory compulsion” on religious matters in Israel. The Ambassador admitted that in two years his country has not found all the answers to questions “which have baffled other coun-countries for thousands of years.”
Outlining Israel’s support of United Nations action against aggression, Mr. Eban said that Israel stands with the U.S. for world peace and the principles of democracy. He denounced the continued refusal of the Arab states to make peace with Israel. Present at the luncheon meeting were the Ambassadors of Canada and Australia, diplomatic representatives of England, France, and other countries, and a number of U.S. government officials.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
