President Julius K. Nyerere of Tanganyika, visiting Washington as a guest of President Kennedy, today defended his country’s relations with Israel and Israel’s role in Africa.
Faced with hostile, pro-Arab questions at the National Press Club, the Tanganyikan President has asked about the concern of Egypt and other North African states over Israeli “neo-colonialism” in Africa, and the alleged dangers constituted by Israel to African unity.
President Nyerere told the Press Club that some of his country’s avowed friends were not “friends” themselves. He said “we pick our friends and we don’t allow our friends to pick enemies for us.” He emphasized that “we don’t believe that our relations with Israel undermine African unity.” Israel and Tanganyika maintain cordial relations, and many Israelis are working there on development projects.
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