Israel Premier David Ben Gurion this week-end again made an indirect peace offer to the Arab countries, in the course of an address at the annual conference of the Israel Journalists Association. “The only thing that would bring peace and stability to the Middle East is peace between Israel and her Arab neighbors,” he declared, adding that the Arab states need no arms, but improved social standards.
Mr. Ben Gurion pointed out that the fate of Israel would not be decided by officials in Washington or Moscow, although “one should not minimize the danger.” Israel’s future, he said, “will be decided by production in the fields and factories, by pioneering education and by strengthening the Israel Army.”
Looking at the Moscow changes through historic eyeglasses,” Mr. Ben Gurion said, “no short-term changes–both internally and externally–can be anticipated.” Touching on the change of administration in the United States, he said that the former isolationist policy of the Republican Party had been shelved, but there was still concern in Europe and other countries regarding America’s new policy. The Premier said Ameica needs the European countries and Israel as much as they need American help.
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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.
