“Israel will never yield its demand that Jews in countries behind the Iron Curtain should be permitted to take an active part in the building of a new life in the land of the Jewish people,” Jonah Kesse, member of the Israel Parliament and one of the delegates of the Israel Labor Party at the Socialist International Congress here, declared today, addressing the Congress.
Mr. Kesse also touched upon Arab-Israel relations and stated that the policy of the Israel Labor Party was one of peace and understanding with Israel’s neighbors. “Our party,” he said, “is ready at all times for direct talks with the Arab countries. We believe that an Israeli-Arab settlement is possible on the basis of mutual recognition of national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the area.”
The Israeli delegate pointed out that it was necessary for the Middle East to develop and build up true democracies. “Peace in the Middle East,” he said, “is impossible by encouragement of an arms race and by supplying heavy armaments to states which refused to negotiate a stable settlement in the area.” He pointed out that Israel labor offered a hand of friendship to the Arabs and promised cooperation with the Arab workers in all countries.
“Our people are devoted to the cause of world peace,” he declared. “We yearn to continue constructive work and to admit newcomers in order to help the building of a society based on ideals which animate the Socialist International.” Mr. Kesse concluded with a warning to the Socialist Congress not to overlook the danger of the neo-Nazi and neo-Fascist forces in the world which are both anti-Semitic and anti-labor.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
