Strong issue was taken here last night by Israel with the Soviet accusations that the aid given by the Jewish State to new African countries is nothing but “colonialism” and economic penetration. The accusations were made in an editorial in Izvestia, organ of the Soviet Government, the newspaper with the largest circulation in the Soviet Union.
Replying to this editorial, the Israeli radio broadcast to Africa–in English, French and Swahali–came out with countercharges and said:
“Izvestia accuses Israel of forcing militarism onto new African countries through the supply to them of arms, through the sale to them of weapons. This comes strangely from a country which these very days is once again massively supplying weapons of destruction to the United Arab Republic, a country which is so far from peace-loving as to boast openly of its intention to destroy Israel.
“Izvestia accuses Israel of trying to impose a new form of colonialism on Africa,” the broadcast continued. “There is more than one kind of colonialism. There is the colonialism that is on the way out. And there is a new, more sinister kind of colonialism which sends occupying armies into its neighbors’ territories.”
“To put Israel into this category is simply ludicrous,” the broadcast said. It went on to give examples of Israel’s “so-called economic penetration.” It cited the agreement with Ghana by which Israel helped to found the Black Star Shipping Line, with Ghana holding 60 percent of the shares and Israel 40.
“A few weeks ago,” the broadcast continued, “the Ghana Government expressed the wish to buy the remaining 40 percent of the shares. Israel, having completed its task of setting up the company for Ghana, withdrew from ownership in accordance with its established principles.”
“Izvestia accuses Israel of trying to force itself on Africa,” the broadcast said. “Certainly Israel has an interest in Africa Just as Israel has an interest in every part of the world and in every country. Israel quite frankly and openly wants the goodwill of other countries Just as it offers its own goodwill to them. If a mutual exchange of knowledge and experience add to this goodwill and widens its area, what is wrong with that?” the broadcast asked.
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