The two-day conference of Jewish leaders from various parts of the country convened by presidents of 17 national Jewish organizations here concluded today with the adoption of resolutions calling upon the United States Government to lay the basis for direct Arab-Israel negotiations.
The American Jewish leaders urged the United States to evaluate the source extent and imminence of the danger that confronts the free world in the Middle East “The United States must resume the role as leader of the coalition of free peoples, determined not to permit the further advance of Soviet power in that strategic area,” a resolution stressed.
The conference took note that the United States Government has taken the lead in the United Nations with the introduction of its resolution on Palestine, on November 3 the objective of which is “establishing conditions of permanent peace and stability” in the area. “It is essential for this purpose that the United Nations in its efforts to achieve permanent peace and stability in the Middle East lay the basis for direct negotiations between the parties involved,” the conference resolution stated. “Real lasting peace can never be achieved by imposition, but only through such direct negotiations which must include a just and human solution of the Arab refugee problem,” it emphasized.
Noting that the U.S. Government had introduced a resolution on the settlement of the Suez question in the United Nations in which the demand is made that “there should be free and open transit through the canal without discrimination, overt or covert, this covers both political and technical aspects,” the conference said: “The introduction of these resolutions by the United States is only a first step. Our government should not permit them to be forgotten but must press the U.N. General Assembly to discuss and act upon them.”
Another resolution stated that “peace will not be attained and the high purposes of the United Nations will be defeated if its international force is allowed to be used by Col. Nasser to effect a return to the intolerable conditions which brought about the current conflict.” The resolution emphasized that “to serve the cause of peace, the United Nations must take effective measures to prevent Nasser’s resumption of belligerency on land and blockade by sea.
The conference also pointed out that the Communist power has grown because of the disunity of the free world. “The Western allies must quickly close ranks in recognition of the common danger and in determination upon effective measures to meet that danger. We call for the restoration of the great fraternity of freedom,” a resolution adopted by the conference declared.
Israel Ambassador Abba Eban addressed the parley, reviewing the events which led up to Israel’s action in the Sinai Peninsula and subsequent developments at the U.N.
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