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Javits Wants Israel Included in Nato; Honored by Z. O. A.

December 21, 1954
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Representative Jacob K. Javits, Attorney General-elect of New York, today called for the active utilization of the defense capability of Israel for the security of the Middle East, and the inclusion of Israel together with the Arab states in a regional defense organization for the area within the framework of the United Nations.

“Unless Israel is invited into this Near East defense organization, Israel should be invited to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) either directly or by an alliance with Greece and Turkey which are now members,” he urged. Mr. Javits also warned that the shipment of arms to the Arab states endangers the present whole U.S. policy “by grave unbalance in the Near East.” He spoke at a reception tendered him by the Zionist Organization of America at the Hotel Plaza.

In his address Mr. Javits, who during the day was President Eisenhower’s guest at luncheon in the White House, declared that the “current emphasis upon defense arrangements with the Arab states including military assistance, which present serious dangers to the security of the Near East, is at the same time apparently causing us to overlook the strong defense capability and strategic location of Israel.”

Dr. Emanuel Neumann, in behalf of the officers and membership of the ZOA, presented a scroll to Mr. Javits in tribute for his “outstanding contributions to the future of Israel and the Jewish people.” He criticized the pamphlet which was issued a few days ago by the State Department on its present policy in the Middle East. “Frankly designed as a reply for the great numbers of citizens who have been writing letters on this subject, this pamphlet is largely a recapitulation of the well-known arguments which have been used in the past to justify the Department’s attitude,” Dr. Neumann said.

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