The Mapai Party, dominant group in Israel’s coalition government, revealed in an inner-party document today four reasons why it had voted to endorse the Eisenhower Doctrine on the Middle East. The reasons are: 1. So that Israel would not be excluded from the framework of the Middle East region; 2. Israel’s development needs direct and indirect economic aid from the United States; 3. “We were obliged to leave open any possible source for necessary arms;” 4. Endorsement of the Eisenhower Doctrine was in accordance with the sentiments of American Jewry.
The Mapai Party, with which leftist groups in the Cabinet have disagreed about endorsement of the Eisenhower Doctrine, made its position clear in a memorandum entitled “Directions for Lecturers” dealing with the party’s position. According to the document: “Israel needed its declaration on the Eisenhower Doctrine more than the United States did.”
Washington, according to the Mapai, was not “excessively” interested in Israeli endorsement of the Eisenhower Doctrine “from fear that such endorsement might hurt relations with the Arab states.” Nevertheless, the Mapai Party maintains, “the very fact that the United States came to the conclusion that it is impossible to solve the Middle East problems without Israel participation represents a great political achievement for Israel.”
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