U.S. is Committed to Israel’s Integrity, Kennedy’s Aide Assures

Myer Feldman, Deputy Special Counsel to President Kennedy today told a conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that the United States was committed to the integrity of Israel and did not intend “to sit on the sidelines if there is any threat.”

Mr. Feldman cited the American supply of Hawk anti-aircraft missiles to Israel and said the United States had made clear that it is opposed to any arms race in the Near East. Mr. Feldman spoke also of large scale development loans to Israel and other measures to insure her prosperity. He said that Israel’s friends must be persistent advocates of peace, that the United States counted Israel as a member of “the family of freedom, ” and said that a world which allowed Israel to fail could not survive.

The AIPAC issued an appeal to the President and the Congress for new measures including a security guarantee committing the United States to deter aggression, the grant of arms to Israel, administration of the U.S. aid program to ensure that none of the American aid to Egypt is diverted to finance preparations for aggression, that our aid program must not assist belligerent countries which threaten neighbors, and other measures.

The conference called attention to recent developments including the new United Arab Republic threat to Israel, continued Egyptian acquisition of Soviet arms, German rocket scientists helping Nasser, and Western governments providing unconditional economic assistance to Egypt despite her war preparations.

Israel Ambassador Avraham Harman told the conference that the Arabs could choose how they wished to unite but that the elimination of Israel was “an unrealistic goal.” He said that Israel would not be another “Warsaw Ghetto. ” He expressed hope that the world would continue urging settlement of Near Eastern disputes through peaceful negotiations. He said Israel’s defense policy aimed not to win a war but to deter conflict and avoid miscalculation by enemies.