Israeli Defense Minister Shimon Peres warned last night that the mass of arms supplied by the Soviet Union to the Arabs is ”more than NATO possesses today.” Addressing some 150 people attending a dinner session of the Greater New York Israel Bond Campaign at the Regency Hotel, Peres observed that the Arabs presently have 2000 tanks and 1500 jet fighters more than NATO. He noted that the Arabs even outnumber the United States military forces. The Arabs have 24 divisions while the U.S. has only 23.
Describing the economic, military and political might of the Arabs, Peres said that “in spite of all these we were able to manage in the past and are able to manage today and will be able to manage in the future” because “we possess inner strength and conviction.”
PRAISES U.S. FOR HELPING ISRAEL
The Defense Minister, who returned to Israel last night after what was described as a working day in Washington, praised the Ford Administration and the American people for helping meet Israel’s economic and military needs. He said Israel is burdened by the high cost of military equipment, citing the F-14 fighter jets which each cost $30 million. Peres said, however, that the U.S. is also “helping us finance this equipment.”
Discussing the role of American Jewry in strengthening Israel, Peres said that American Jews are “fingers in a hand that builds a country.” He observed that the gates for Soviet Jews might soon be opened and told the audience: “Russian Jewry is your and our responsibility, and we have to save them.”
A special tribute was paid to Samuel Newman, former chairman of the Greater New York Israel Bond Campaign. He was given an award of a Byzantine antique vase by Michael Arnon, president and chief executive of the Israel Bond Organization. A total of $1.475 million in Israel Bond pledges was made during the course of the evening.
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