The proclamation of a “federation” by Egypt and Syria would increase the danger to the security of Israel, Dr. Emanuel Neumann, president of the Zionist Organization of America, warned here today, addressing an all-day meeting of the National Zionist Executive Council, ruling body of the ZOA between conventions. Such a federation he added, is not likely to endure as a permanent union unless held together by the iron hand of Moscow.”
Referring to the opening of the conference of the Bagdad Pact nations tomorrow in Anakra, Dr. Neumann blamed the failure of the Baglad Pact to secure the Middle East against Soviet penetration to “a faulty conception of policy.” He charged that the basic problem was not military but political–the internal tensions and instability of the region–which makes it a happy hunting ground for communist subversion.”
Asserting that among the unresolved problems which United States diplomacy failed to deal with is the problem of Arab-Israel peace, Dr. Neumann further charged that “on this crucial problem our government has temporized, side-stepped and delayed effective action.”
“The possibility for bringing about a settlement of the Arab-Israel dispute was more promising some years ago before Soviet Russia became the potent influence in the Middle East that it is today, the ZOA leader continued. “Yet at this late date it is necessary to eradicate the root cause of the continuing tension by making it clear to the Arab states that they cannot blackmail the free world into abandoning Israel to their voracious designs or induce the West to bargain for Arab friendship at Israel’s expense.
Assailing the Western appeasement policy, Dr. Neumann further maintained that “as long as the Arab leaders are permitted to cherish the dream of dismembering Israel with the tacit approval of the West, there can be no Arab-Israel settlement, and without such a settlement there can be no pacification and stabilization of the Middle East situation.”
He further cautioned that “any ambiguity on our part is bound to encourage further political unrest stimulated by the Kremlin’s puppets and agents” and added that: “Our government should rather express its firm resolve to safeguard not only Israel’s independence but also her territorial integrity which is the object of overt attack and covert designs”
Prof. Mordecai M. Kaplan, noted Rabbinic leader and author, who was a principal speaker at the session, called upon the Zionist movement to perpetuate the State of Israel as a means of giving the Jew everywhere a spiritual status. “This spiritual status he can have only as a member of the Jewish people which is at the present time in need of being reconstitute,” he said.
The meeting was highlighted by a discussion on the future aims and functions of the world Zionist movement. Abraham A. Goodman, chairman of the Council, presided.
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.
