A majority of Israel’s newspapers expressed regret today over President Johnson’s surprise announcement Sunday night that he would not seek re-election next fall. A concensus of the Israeli press was that President Johnson was one of the staunchest friends of Israel ever to occupy the White House.
The daily Lamerhav, organ of the Achdut Avodah, said that “more than all of his predecessors, with the possible exception of President Truman,” Mr. Johnson showed comprehension of Israel’s needs and “lent his support in days of trial.” Hayom, organ of Gahal, the Herut-Liberal alignment, sounded the same note, declaring that “it has been many years since Israel had a friend in the White House like President. Johnson.” The President’s friendship toward Israel was also stressed by Hamodia, organ of the Agudas Israel, Omer (Histadrut) and Shearim (Poale Agudas Israel).
Al Hamishmar, organ of the left-wing labor party, Mapam took a cautious view. “The Security Council is now discussing grave incidents on the Israel-Jordan border and we may discern there the first signs of American policy on the morrow of President Johnson’s announcement,” the paper said. “That may give us a clue to future U.S.-Israel relations.”
Two of the countries leading dallies, Davar and Haaretz, speculated on the outcome of Johnson’s peace overtures to North Vietnam. “If Hanoi should refuse to come to the conference table after an unconditional bombing pause. President Johnson’s past Vietnam policy will be vindicated,” according to Davar. Haaretz cautioned that the Communists may decide to “drag their feet until a new President enters the White House.”
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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.
