Israel Foreign Minister Golda Meir affirmed today that Israel will implement passage of the Suez Canal by Israeli shipping both in law and in fact. She warned that a breach of Israel’s trust on the Suez question will affect not only Israel but the entire world and warned the United Nations that it must take a firm stand against Egyptian President Nasser’s obstinacy in refusing to grant Israel free passage.
Opening a five-hour debate in the Israeli Parliament tonight, Mrs. Meir declared that Israel’s foreign policy was based on three points: first, the right of self-defense and freedom of action in the Akaba and Tiran areas, second, no return to the status quo ante, and third, long-term security for Israel which is a matter for the world’s conscience.
Mrs. Meir warned that the United Nations has a grave responsibility for the situation created in the Gaza Strip since UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold could not have misunderstood the conditions under which Israel withdrew its forces there.
Mrs. Meir said the Government “cannot hide our deep disappointment that the United States has not used its full influence to prevent deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip.” She conceded that “there were differences on the legal status” but pointed out that “there were no differences of opinion about the de facto situation that should develop. She declared that “the United States had taken on a great moral responsibility in persuading Israel to yield.
Mrs. Meir admitted the failure of Israel’s hopes and efforts with regard to the Gaza area. She categorically rejected proposals that units of the United Nations Emergency Force be stationed on Israel territory. She praised France for its friendship and understanding of Israel’s problems.
Police reinforcements were rushed to the Knesset today to hold off an angry crowd of demonstrators protesting alleged discrimination in the payment of pensions to disabled victims of the Nazis. Under the reparations pact with Bonn, Israel agreed to take over responsibility for pensions of Israeli residents disabled by Nazi persecution. The demonstrators insisted that as a result of the current rate of exchange they were receiving substantially less than if Germany were paying their pensions directly.
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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.
