Rep. Alfred E. Santangelo, New York Democrat, has introduced a bill providing for issuance of a special commemorative U.S. postage stamp honoring Israel’s tenth anniversary. But State Department sources quickly pointed out the department would advise postal authorities against such a stamp because the Arabs might take offense.
According to the reported State Department view, a U.S. stamp honoring Israel would facilitate Communist propaganda which seeks to equate the United States with Israel in Arab eyes. There is also said to be a “practical question” of whether the Arab states would allow U.S. mail bearing such stamps to be delivered through their internal postal systems. However, the State Department has not spoken officially although officials who usually advise on such matters are known to have formulated a negative attitude.
The idea of U.S. stamps honoring foreign nations is not new. Many commemoratives of this sort have been issued. Rep. Santangelo termed Israel’s tenth anniversary an “excellent occasion” to “salute Israel as a symbol of democracy in that strife-torn area of the world.” He said it would “demonstrate to the world that Israel does not stand alone in this troubled area.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
