Israel Wants U.S. to “repair” Balance of Power in Middle East

Informed Washington quarters familiar with Israel thinking and the background of current Israel-American discussions made known today the view that Israel is currently concerned as to whether the United States will continue to accept and adhere to the concept of a balance of power in the Near East as enunciated in the Tripartite Declaration of 1950, guaranteeing the present Arab-Israel borders.

Israel is characterized as anxious for the United States to bring its Near Eastern policy toward the Jewish State into conformity with its policy toward Arab League states by repairing the balance of power and removing factors Israel considers unilateral and discriminatory.

An atmosphere of goodwill exhibited toward Israel recently by Secretary of State Dulles, according to these sources, has not yet been translated into anything tangible in connection with Israel’s concern over the arming of the Arabs. Hope is held that favorable developments may be forthcoming. The scene is said to be a dark one for Israel with, however, a light visible on the horizon.

Egypt, it is thought, has been given the impression that its policies toward Israel are acceptable in that arms may be granted to Egypt even though no Egyptian assurances are extended to Israel. It is pointed out that Egypt could show its peaceful intentions, in the wake of the Suez Canal settlement, by lifting its anti-Israel blockade of the Suez waterway.

As a result of the American policy of granting arms, the Arabs have become more intransigeant while Israel becomes more restless. Those familiar with Israel thinking say Israel is concerned lest the U.S. dismiss Arab threats against Israel as “merely intended for Arab home consumption.” A recent statement by the Egyptian Prime Minister is cited in which he laid claim to two-thirds of Israel’s territory. It is felt that this Egyptian claim against Israel caused little or no concern on the part of the State Department.