The new Syrian Minister to Bonn, Jamal ed Farra, yesterday protested to the Big Four delegations at the Foreign Ministers meeting here and to representatives of the East German, West German and Austrian Governments here against the payment of reparations by East or West Germany or Austria to Israel, it was reported today.
The Syrian representative, speaking in the name of the Arab states, charged that reparations payments would increase the war potential of Israel which, he asserted, was still at war with the Arabs. Mr. Farra today admitted that he had not been received by the Big Four, but said he had conferred with Dr. Lothar Bolz, Foreign Minister of East Germany, who had reiterated his government’s determination not to pay reparations.
The Syrian diplomat’s activities and statements today drew a blast from Dr. Chaim Yahil, Israeli representative in Berlin who has been in contact with the Big Four delegations on matters of interest to the Jewish State. Dr. Yahil charged Mr. Farra with “meddling” in an issue in which his country had no standing.
The Israeli diplomat, who is deputy chief of the Israel purchasing mission in Germany, also refuted wild statements made by the Arab in reference to the Arab-Israel conflict, the refugee situation and German reparations to Israel and indemnification to Jews. In response to an implied threat by Mr. Farra that if Jews throughout the world identified themselves with Israel they would be open to a widespread wave of anti-Semitism, Dr. Yahil charged that the Arab politicians were attempting to stir up anti-Semitism.
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.
