Jews in Algeria are viewing their future with as much apprehension over what is not being said as in regard to what is being said, it was reported here today by the Washington Post.
Waverly Root, a Washington Post correspondent, reported from Tunis that Algerian Jews view the situation as a threat to their future as a result of a statement attributed to–and later denied by–Mohammed Ben Bella, Vice Premier of the Algerian Provisional Government. Mr. Ben Bella had been quoted by the Middle East News Agency of Cairo as saying that Algeria would send troops to fight Israel, but he denied it this week.
“The denial of Ben Bella’s words,” reported Root, “was received in Tunis with some skepticism, partly because the form of the denial made it possible to believe that it was the exact wording of the Middle East News Agency report which was being contested. What was significant–and Algerian Jews are not missing the point–is that Moslem opinion is such that a declaration of war against Judaism was hailed while an expression of peaceful intentions toward Jewish communities can be politically damaging. “
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