The Arabs admit Israel’s military strength and knew that they cannot destroy Israel militarily, but they hope the Jewish state will collapse through economic disruption caused by the immigration program, Gideon Raphael, a member of the Israel delegation at the United Nations, reported at a press conference here.
He said that the Arabs oppose the Huleh drainage project because they hope to keep Israel from resettling some 40,000 immigrants on that land and thus relieving the economic crisis. The only time the Arabs will sign peace treaties with Israel is when they are convinced that their hopes of an economic breakdown in Israel are an illusion, Mr. Raphael declared. He added that further funds for the Jewish state would be a guarantee of speedier achievement of peace in the Middle East.
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