Israel’s Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett today reiterated in the Knesset the statement made there last night by Premier David Ben Gurion that the Jewish state is always ready to conclude peace with the Arab countries.
“We were always ready and we are now ready for peace with every one of our neighbors separately as well as with all of them together,” Mr. Sharett said, addressing the Knesset on the government bill to increase the term of service in Israel’s armed forces from the present 24 months to a 30-month period. “However, we are also ready to meet force with force and to repulse aggression from any neighbor, separately or all of them together.”
The Foreign Minister pointed out that the bill submitted to the Knesset does not reflect on the situation in the neighboring countries. “We have not started any military race with them,” he stated. He cited Israel’s internal peace and stability and said that the Jewish state strives to strengthen relations with all peace-loving countries.
“Our neighbors,” he declared, “imposed a blockade on us from three sides, but we are ready to remain within such a blockade. The blockade will not break us. We will emerge from it seven-fold stronger. The proposed bill means only maintaining our numerical military status quo, and if we will not increase the service time a certain dwindle must come.”
Following discussions which lasted several hours, the Knesset voted for the extension of the bill. The vote was 70 to 11.
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