Soviet Indicates Willingness to Invite Knesset Delegation to Moscow

The question of whether Israel would agree to send a Parliamentary delegation to Moscow was discussed here today by Soviet Ambassador Alexander Abramov with Israel’s Foreign Minister, Mrs. Golda Myerson. About four months ago, Joseph Sprinzak, Speaker of the Parliament, indicated that he would accept such an invitation from the Soviet Government.

Ambassador Abramov broached the question in the course of his talk with Mrs. Myerson who invited him to the Foreign Office to sound out Moscow’s attitude toward the continued Egyptian blockade of the Suez Canal. This will be one of the principal issues which the Israel Government will raise next week with United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold when he arrives in Jerusalem.

Mrs. Myerson also discussed with the Soviet envoy the increasing tension along the Arab frontiers. It is this tension which is apparently bringing Mr. Hammarskjold to Jerusalem where he will confer with Israeli leaders and later with Jordan Government officials. Later, he will proceed to Egypt. The discussions will take place against the background of Mr. Hammarskjold’s Moscow visit last week where he discussed with top Soviet leaders the extent of Soviet willingness to participate in easing the Arab-Israel tension.

HATIKVAH PLAYED IN MOSCOW; ISRAELI SONGS RELAYED OVER RADIO

While diplomatic talks were going on between Mrs. Myerson and the Soviet Ambassador, Israelis heard today for the first time Hatikvah and Israeli folk songs played over the Moscow radio. The Israel national anthem, which has been taboo in the Soviet Union as a symbol of the Zionist movement, was relayed over the radio from the Moscow Dynamo Stadium where an Israeli soccer team was playing the Soviet team.

The streets of Tel Aviv were deserted during the evening hours because most people were at home glued to the radio listening to the Moscow broadcast, a play-by-play description of the game, interrupted from time to time by Israeli tunes. Most of the cinemas were empty for the same reason. The Israelis lost the game 5 to 0, which had been expected here.

Meanwhile it was reported today that the Soviet Embassy has asked the economic department of Israel’s Foreign Ministry to arrange for the shipping to the Soviet Union of 1,000 lulavim, ethrogim and hadassim for use by religious Jews in Russia next Succoth. The whole consignment must reach Russia at least several weeks before Succoth for distribution among Jews in various parts of the country.