The conclusion of alliances in the Middle East without Israel represents, in the present circumstances, a change in the balance of power detrimental to Israel, Premier Moshe Sharett declared in Parliament today during a debate on the implications of the projected Turkish-Iraqi pact.
While granting every state or group of states the right to enter into defensive arrangements, Mr. Sharett stressed that certain provisions of the announced pact caused Israel concern. In this connection he singled out the provision of the agreement which was directed against aggression from outside and from within the Middle East region, and references to United Nations resolutions as the basis on which stability of the Middle East would be sought.
The Premier noted that the alignment visualized in the Turkish-Iraqi pact was aimed at Israel which, he underlined, had no alliance with any power either in or outside the region. He pointed out that the reference to UN resolutions was obviously inserted by Iraq and aimed at Israel. He reported that Israel was attempting to clarify the situation in friendly discussion with the Turkish Government. Similar discussions are going on with some of the major powers, Mr. Sharett said.
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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.