U.S. Government Urged to Assure Israel’s Security Against Aggression

The Zionist Organization of America, concluding today a two-day meeting of its National Executive Council, unanimously hailed Israel’s reaffirmation of its adherence “to the cause of the free world’ and called upon the United States Government to reciprocate Israel’s action by fulfilling its “moral commitments to assure Israel’s security against aggression.”

It also urged the government to utilize the occasion of the forthcoming NATO Conference in Paris for the purpose of “extending fullest and widest international support to the democratically oriented countries of the Middle East. ” The meeting approved a statement of policy to this effect presented by Dr. Emanuel Neumann, ZCA president, following his review of the current developments affecting Israel and the Middle East.

Zionist leaders from all parts of the country attended the meeting which was presided over by Abraham Goodman, chairman of the Council. The two-day meeting was also addressed by Mayor Chaim Levanon of Tel Aviv and Joseph Serlin, General Zionist member of the Knesset and former Israeli Minister of Health. Mr. Goodman announced at the meeting that the ZOA has undertaken the sponsorship of Herzliah Hebrew High School and Hebrew Teachers’ Institute in New York City, in keeping with the organization program for the furtherance of Hebrew education and the encouragement of Hebrew day schools.

The statement of policy, unanimously approved by the National Executive Council follows;

“We have followed with deep interest the recent discussions in Israel of proposals for a change of foreign policy and orientation. The emergence of such proposals must be viewed against the background of increasing Soviet penetration of the Middle East the massive shipments of Soviet arms, the growth of Russian power in the area, and the mounting threat to Israel. We have withheld comment pending conclusion of the foreign policy debate by Israel’s Parliament. The debate having ended, we note that Israel. Prime Minister and the Knesset have rejected the concept of neutralism this reaffirming Israel’s adherence to the cause of the Free World.

As Americans, we welcome every demonstration of Israel’s attachment to the principles and ideals which we share with all nations dedicated to democracy; but we are mindful of the double and anxieties produced among the people of Israd by the shortcomings of Western policy and the failure to offer firm international assurances and adequate pro-vision for Israel’s defense in the face of the growing peril to her very existence. We are therefore fully cognizant of the grave character of Israel’s decision as well as its international significance.

“We call upon our government to reciprocate Israel’s staunch devotion to the democratic cause, with policies that will vindicate her faith in America and in America’s moral commitments to assure her security against aggression. Failure to do so may lead to renewed calls for an agenizing reappraisal on Israel’s part and to further demands that she abandon her traditional position-an outcome which our government must bend every effort to avert in our own national interest. If Israel’s role as bulwark and bastion of the Free World in the Middle East is to be maintained, we must be forewarned and act now to provide firm guarantees for her security.

“Since the forthcoming NATO Conference must consider the Middle East crisis and its relevance to the problem of European defenses, we urge our government to utilize the occasion for the purpose of extending fullest and widest international support to the democratically oriented countries of the Middle East.”