The Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, today defeated two opposition motions to debate the supplying of military uniforms to West Germany by an Israeli firm. The motions were rejected by votes of 50 to 28.
Opposition Herut and Mapam deputies, who described the sale of the uniforms to West Germany as a “grave shame,” urged the Government to intervene and cancel the order. The uniforms are being manufactured by the Ata textile firm. Commerce and Industry Minister Pinhas Sapir, who recalled the opposition’s abortive debate on the supply of Uzzi submachine guns to West Germany, said that the sale of uniforms was within the framework of normal exports.
Mr. Sapir said Germany was now Israel’s third best customer, with her purchases from Israel having increased 16-fold from $1,500,000 in 1954 to $24,000,000 this year. During that period, he said, exports to the United Kingdom increased by 50 per cent, and to the United States by 60 per cent.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
