Reflecting the growing opposition in Britain to American arming of the Arab states, Britain’s two leading newspapers — the Times of London and the Manchester Guardian–today published editorials expressing concern over the United States decision to ship arms to Iraq.
The Times asserted that the American decision “has led the Arab states to think that Israel can no longer reckon on American support. In this they are no doubt completely mistaken, but the effect has been to encourage them to rally behind Jordan in her dispute with Israel.”
The editorial warned that the “prevailing mood in Israel is dangerous,” following Assistant Secretary of State Henry Byroade’s recent speeches, “because it may harden into desperation.”
The Guardian called upon the United States not to supply arms to Iraq without strings attached, one of which should be the conclusion of a formal peace with Israel. Israel’s case against the supplying of arms to Iraq “has not been overstated, the newspaper declared. It noted that at this moment, the Arab states including Iraq are still defying the United Nations Security Council by refusing to honor the terms of their armistice agreements with Israel.
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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.
