Senator Jacob Javits (R., N. Y.) today called Saudi Arabian-U. S. agreement on the Dharhan Airbase, which bars American Jews from service at the field, “a grave retreat from the highest American traditions and principles.”
Mr. Javits said that the arrangement began under the Truman Administration. It has continued into the Eisenhower Administration and “remains intolerable,” he stated. “Every American has a right to expect the unremitting effort of our government to correct the affront to our national policy and dignity inherent in the discrimination in Saudi Arabia,” he declared.
Rep Emanuel Celler (D., N.Y.) similarly protested against the Administrations acquiescence to bar American Jews at the Saudi Arabian base. It is a “sad commentary” upon our foreign policy and in effect encourages religious discrimination against U.S. citizens, Rep. Celler said. “This discrimination apparently does not bother the President,” he commented.
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.