A new look by the State Department at the developments in the Middle East, in the light of Nasser’s threats to Israel and also to Arab countries, was urged today by Senator Jacob K. Javits at a reception tendered by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee at the Town Club here. The reception was arranged in honor of members of the Congressional delegation from New York, and took special note of Senator Javits’ re-election and Rep. Emanuel Celler’s completion of 40 years of service in the House.
Senator Javits emphasized that “in the face of the masses of Soviet-bloc weapons delivered to Egypt, the sale of Hawk missiles by the United States to Israel is not enough to correct the greatly growing arms imbalance.” He added that “Nasser’s threats and proved unreliability in honoring his commitments make it more urgent than ever to maintain Israel’s defenses.”
“Even the security of the Arab states against communism or anarchy, and certainly the stability of the Near East depend heavily on Israel’s security and stability,” Senator Javits said. “As long as Israel remains strong, President Nasser will not attack, notwithstanding his threats, but Israel cannot indefinitely keep up a military balance with President Nasser’s rockets and Soviet made MIG-21’s and IL-28 bombers without U. S. aid. Israel’s skilled manpower and high morale alone cannot match Egypt’s preponderance of manpower backed by the most modern weapons targeting on Israeli cities.
“Peace and disarmament are the best answers to this problem, but as Moscow builds up President Nasser’s prestige and strength economically and militarily and U. S. policy helps along such a build-up-even if unwittingly-we shall not have peace or stability in the Near East. A new look by the Administration at the consequences of its current policy should lead to constructive action on such matters as the present arms imbalance, the continued blockade of the Suez Canal against Israel shipping, the Arab economic boycott and our passive attitude toward the Arab blacklisting of American business firms by states which could not survive without financial assistance derived from the American taxpayer,” the New York Senator declared.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
