Israelis ready to negotiate any regional water development scheme for the Middle East but will not forego her rights or interests or sovereignty over any portion of her territory, Premier Moshe Sharett today declared in Parliament.
He made the statement in reply to demands of leftist and rightist parties that Israel immediately reject the proposed American regional development scheme which will be presented to Israel again within the next week or so by Ambassador Eric Johnston, President Eisenhower’s personal envoy on this project. The groups which raised the questions were the Communists, Dr. Moshe Sneh’s Mapam faction and the Herut. The latter insisted upon immediate resumption of work on Israel’s hydroelectric project on the Jordan River.
Mr. Sharett insisted that there was no need for a discussion in Parliament of the forthcoming negotiations with Ambassador Johnston because there was no question but that Israel would forego no rights and yield no sovereignty. Parliament backed the Premier, rejecting all motions leading to a debate on the subject.
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