Jewish organizations expressed deep alarm today over the crisis in the Middle East, criticized the decision by U.N. Secretary-General U Thant to withdraw the United Nations Emergency Force, and called on President Johnson to reaffirm United States support of Israel’s security.
The American Jewish Committee, concluding its 61st annual meeting, in New York, urged Washington’s “immediate and unequivocal reaffirmation of the fundamental U.S. commitment to Israel as a matter of critical importance.”
The American Jewish Congress, in a statement adopted by its national governing council, expressed deep anxiety over the current developments in the Middle East. It urged President Johnson to take immediate action for the preservation of the borders and territorial integrity of the Middle East states under the Tripartite Declaration to that effect issued by the U.S.A., Britain and France in 1950.
A special meeting of the American Zionist Council, today, stated that the withdrawal of UNEF has resulted in escalation of the tensions on the Arab-Israeli borders and declared the AZC’s confidence that the United States Government “will stand by its commitment to safeguard the territorial integrity and security of Israel.”
On behalf of the leading Conservative, Orthodox and Reform organizations in the United States, the Synagogue Council of America expressed its “profound concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.”
Anxiety over developments in the Middle East was also expressed by the American section of the World Jewish Congress today, in a telegram to President Johnson. The wire expressed the organization’s “deep sense of anxiety at the grave developments in the Middle East, resulting from Egyptian mobilization and the ouster of the UNEF.” It appealed “earnestly” to the President that he “use the full extent of American influence for the preservation of peace.” The telegram was signed by Dr. Max Nussbaum, president of the American section of the WJC; Jacob Katzman, chairman of the section’s administrative committee; and Max Melamet, executive director of the section.
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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.
