Israel will strive for friendship with the American people and its government but will not buy this friendship with concessions, Premier Moshe Sharett declared tonight in Parliament.
The Premier said that the Israel Government will not hesitate to enter into an open dispute with the U. S. Government regarding any attempt to curb Israel’s sovereignty, or security, or any other matter vital to the existence of the Jewish State.
Addressing a rally of Air Force reserve officers, earlier today Mr. Sharett dwelt on the Anglo-Egyptian agreement under which the British troops are to leave the Suez Canal zone within 20 months and emphasized that “an important reshuffle of the balance of power in the Middle East countries took place last night” with this agreement. He stressed that this development, and “the continous threatening declarations against Israel, demand utmost alertness and preparedness on our part”
The Premier said that Israel would like to see all nations regain their independence and freedom, but asserted that such independence must be measured in terms of that nation’s cooperation with others. Egypt will also be measured by such standards, he underlined. He noted that the important military bases which had been abandoned to Egypt had been left without prior Egyptian undertaking not to commit aggression. Also, he went on, the pact did not obligate Egypt to open the Canal to free passage of all shipping. Israel, he added, will continue its campaign to open the Suez.
SAYS U. S. ARMING OF EGYPT MAY SPUR NEW ANTI-ISRAEL AGGRESSION
Mr. Sharett emphasized that the gravity of the situation had been intensified by the American decision to continue its one-sided policy of arming the Arabs. “We warn against supplying arms to Egypt as long as she continues the (Suez Canal) blockade and hostile declarations against us. As long as this situation remains and until there is an explicit change in Egypt’s stand and her behavior, we will consider any arms given to Egypt as intended to be turned by her against us. We are not bent on expansion, but we will remain watchful and alert and we will withstand any aggression against us,” he continued.
The Israeli Premier further warned that the granting of new strength to Egypt without the Arab state being obligated to regularize her relations with Israel might be interpreted by Egypt as a spur to new aggression. This is especially so when Egypt has just obtained control of the Suez Canal without any obligation on her part to end the blockade against Israel traffic.
Gen. A. Avidar, Acting Army Chief of Staff, another speaker at the rally, warned that the Anglo-Egyptian agreement brings nearer a second round of warfare by the Arab states against Israel. “Therefore, we must strengthen our forces in all fields, including the Air Force, ” he said.
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