Against a background of increased American friendship toward the Arab countries and repeated emphasis on the strategic importance of Israel’s economic strength to ward off the challenge of Arab and Soviet hostility, the three-day national leadership conference under the auspices of the Israel Bond Organization closed today with the adoption of a resolution pledging to sell a minimum of $100,000,000 worth of bonds in the United States during 1953.
Since its inception, on May 1, 1951, the Israel Bond campaign has raised more than $150,000,000 for the economic expansion of Israel, it was- reported at the conference. Stressing the urgent need of Israel for immediate and large-scale investment capital, the conference called on “all friends of Israel and upon all Jewish communities to proceed with continuous activity to make possible the fulfillment of the essential purpose for the economic survival of Israel.”
The keynote of the new campaign was sounded by Henry Morgenthau, Jr., former Secretary of the United States Treasury and chairman of the Bond group’s board of governors, who presided at the closing session. Mr, Morgenthau said the success; of the Israel bond campaign was vital to “provide Israel with the economic resources to stand on her own feet.”
“DEEP SENSE OF CONCERN” FOR THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL EXPRESSED
Julian B. Venezky, chairman of the executive committee of the Israel Bond Organization, pointed out that the response to the 1953 campaign for Israel Bonds must be a demonstration on the part of American Jews to our government of their “deep sense of concern for the future of Israel and a continuation of close and friendly relations between the United States and Israel.”
To dramatize the need for increased investment funds, the conference designated the period from March 20th to April 20th as Israel Redemption Month. During this month every community was urged to conduct “an intensive, unceasing campaign for the conversion of Bond commitments into cash.” As the climax of Israel Redemption Month, the date of April 20th, which will mark the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel, is to be observed with special celebrations in every section of the country.
Characterizing the “prompt collection of all outstanding Israel Bond subscriptions as a primary obligation of every Jewish community, ” the resolution called upon local bond organizations to make possible the presentation of large sums of cash from Israel Bonds as “the finest birthday gift that may be sent to the State of Israel.”
Another conference resolution provided for the creation of permanent and continually functioning administrative units in each community “as a vital necessity for the success of the sale of Israel Bonds.” In accordance with this action, Israel Bond committees throughout the United States are to set up local steering committees consisting of a cross-section of all elements in the Jewish communities interested in Israel.
EBAN WARNS AGAINST SUPPLYING ARMS TO ARAB STATE
Emphasizing Israel’s determination to maintain the integrity of its borders, Israel Ambassador Abba Eban told the delegates that “we could not be indifferent to any substantive increase in the military equipment or resources of a neighboring state claiming belligerence against Israel. ” Mr. Eban stressed Israel’s direct concern with events throughout the entire Middle East, including the Suez Canal area.
Mr. Eban said that Israel has always relied heavily upon the support of friendly governments, as well as Jewish communities throughout the world, in the present tense world situation. Since the recent Soviet break in diplomatic relations with Israel, he said, “there has been not the slightest change in the degree of our reliance upon these solidarity’s and friendships.”
In a reference to recent proposals made–without consulting Israel–that the Egyptian Government take over control of the Suez Canal from the British, Mr. Eban stressed that “Israel’s interests may be directly affected by any discussion of changes in neighboring countries. We are interested, as all members of the United Nations are, in international rights in the waterway being preserved. “
The Israel Ambassador referred to Israel’s strategic location in the Middle East, and pointed out that good relations between Israel and her neighbors are indispensable to any solution of the manifold problems of that area. “The Middle East, ” he said, “can be united only in the degree that Israel, its central link, is integrated in all its regional efforts for security and freedom. The only true friends of the Middle East are those who assiduously encourage its governments and peoples to negotiate a peace settlement, the lack of which obstructs all prospect of advance.”
Mr. Eban referred to the important role which Israel Bonds have played in the growth of his country. “The investment dollars that we have received through the Israel Bond campaign, “he said, “have enabled us to strengthen existing economic undertakings and establish new ones. ” He added that Israel’s way “is hard and long, but we have the exhilaration of seeing our goal appearing tangibly to our eyes.”
Investment funds from the Israel Bond drive are essential for Israel to overcome its current financial problems, Theodor Koueck, Director-General of the Prime Minister’s office in Jerusalem, told the conference. He described steps taken by Israel to curb inflation and to “live within its means.” He indicated that the availability of adequate Israel Bond resources, supplementing Israel’s internal program of austerity and careful planning, would make it possible to overcome these difficulties in the next few years through the establishment of new industrial enterprises.
SEN. TAFT SAYS ISRAEL IS ENTITLED TO AMERICAN ASSISTANCE
Senator Robert A. Taft, Senate majority leader, who was presented with a plaque honoring him for “his historic contributions to the creation and development of Israel,” told the conference that American policy should be directed towards strengthening Israel’s economy and making Israel’s government “permanent. “
“We have the problem of settling and resettling many people who have been driven from their homes In the world war, “he stated.”We have the very expensive job that has been taken off our hands to a large extent by the State of Israel, in settling permanently a large number of the people who otherwise would be 8 charge upon the entire world. So I think they are entitled to turn to us for assistance and reimbursement in that tremendous task that they have undertaken for the entire world.”
Declaring that Moscow’s breaking off relations with Israel “is considered in many instances the most likely preliminary to war, ” Sen. Taft said: “Our reply to this attack on this little country is the continuation of our policy of assistance, to strengthen the State of Israel to carry out its proper purposes. Israel must be able to accept those refugees who may succeed in escaping from behind the Iron Curtain. It must consolidate itself economically and meet the critical problems arising out of the great migration of the last five years.”
“In the Near East,” he said, “I think that it is clear that we must achieve a clear and definite understanding on peace between Israel and the Arab states as to !the boundaries, as to the settlement of Arab and Jewish refugees, and as to Communism, and we must build up a determination to achieve a strength that will be in fact a resistance to Communism to a spot which is a pretty soft spot compared to the other places throughout the world where Communist aggression may be feared. “
SEN. LEHMAN WARNS AGAINST WOOING THE ARAB LEADERS
Addressing the conference last night, Sen. Herbert H. Lehman said that those who favor a program which would woo the Arab leaders by reducing U.S. support of Israel are “playing fast and loose with the interests and security of America.” He warned against the “deadly serious possibility” of a change in United States policy which could bring about a renewal of the Arab-Israel war by giving increased military and economic aid to the Arabs while reducing American assistance to Israel.
Such a policy, he said, would be playing directly into the Kremlin’s hands. A competition between the United States and Russia for the favor of the Arab states, ha stated, would be to “snatch at the bait on the Communist hook.” The Krem lin, he said, deliberately destroyed hope that moderates among the leaders in Arab countries might make s permanent peace with Israel.
Sen. Lehman said he favored increased economic aid to the Arab states, as well as increased assistance to Israel. He emphasized, however, that he will ask the Eisenhower administration for assurances that the assistance sent to the Middle East will be used to bring peace and not war.
Other speakers included Dr. Dov Joseph, Israel Minister of State; Henry Montor, executive vice-chairman of the Israel Bond Organization; Dr. Nelson Glueck, president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion; Mrs. Moses P. Epstein, Hadassah leader, and others.
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