Jewish Congress Asks Navy to Revise Its Anti-israel Cargo Contracts

The American Jewish Congress today called on the United States Navy to stop serving as the “enforcement agent” of the Arab boycott of Israel.

In a telegram to Secretary of Defense Thomas S. Gates, Jr., the AJC urged revision of Navy oil cargo contracts which, it was charged, have made the U.S. a “partner” in Arab defiance of UN resolutions demanding opening of the Suez Canal for traffic and transit of all countries. The telegram said that the Navy had “capitulated” to Arab pressure “by imposing penalties upon American shippers wishing to deal with Israel.”

“The authority, prestige and economic power of the U.S. must be placed in support of the principle that American shippers should have complete liberty to trade with all countries of the world with whom we maintain good relations, “the American Jewish Congress telegram declared.

“Deep shock” at Navy discrimination in awarding contracts against shipping firms doing business with Israel was expressed today by Louis Sogal, general secretary of the Farband-Labor Zionist Order, member of the executive of the Jewish Agency in a letter addressed to Secretary of Defense, Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Mr. Segal pointed out that the Navy contract “gives official sanction by an important U.S. agency to the United Arab Republic’s continued defiance of the United Nations in barring ships going to and from Israel from the Suez Canal.”