A mass return of the Arab refugees would turn Israel into another “Cyrpus,” where a divided population has been torn by bitter strife, in the view of the Israel Government which was made known here during the Eshkol visit. Israel stands ready, however, to contribute financially and through technical and other assistance to the permanent resettlement of the Arab refugees in Arab lands, it was indicated.
Israel also felt the visit by Soviet Premier Khrushchev to the United Arab Republic did not add to the prospects for Middle East peace. It was also noted that the flow of Soviet arms to the Nasser regime did not serve the cause of peace. Khrushchev’s inflammatory statement especially were noted.
Israel feels a need to increase its conventional military strength. This has been defined as meaning more planes, more airfields, more modern tanks and the strengthening of the human capacity and spirit of the Israel armed forces. Israel is naturally concerned about reports of Egyptian development and acquisition of dangerous new missiles and other ultramodern weapons.
Arab threats to block the Jordan waters in order to frustrate Israel’s national water carrier project are believed something of a sabre-rattling without real meaning. Israel would be able to come to terms with-Jordan or Lebanon, it is felt, but Nasser is seen as the basic source of hostility and inflammation in the region.
Israel has not taken a stand in Washington against American aid to Egypt although Israel hopes for increased pressure for constructive use of these funds. Israel feels that too much of Egyptian resources have thus been freed and diverted to irresponsible and warlike purposes.
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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.
