Jewish organizations in this country today expressed concern over the mounting tension between Israel and the Arab countries and called upon the United States Government to suspend its contemplated program of providing arms to the Arab states.
Statements to this effect were issued by Philip M. Klutznick, president of the B’nai B’rith; Adolph Held, chairman of the Jewish Labor Committee; the national executive board of Hadassah; and leaders of the Mizrachi and Hapoel Hamizrachi of America.
Mr. Klutznick said in his statement: “It is clear that prolongation of the existing tensions is jeopardizing political and economic stability in the Middle East. The armistice system is breaking down, and there is very real danger of war once again, We have heretofore taken the position that measures by our government to supply arms to the Arab states in this atmosphere of unrest and violence is at best questionable. The intransigence of Jordan in refusing to meet with Israel reflects the attitude of the Arab countries toward peace.
Mr. Held, in a cable to Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, said that “the United Nations and the United States as its most influential member must do all in their power to prevent such brutal aggressions and safeguard the peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
The Hadassah statement pointed out that “the shaky armistice agreements which govern relations between Israel and the Arab states are crumbling, ” It charged the Arab governments with refusing to respect their obligations under these agreements, and with resisting every effort to establish a permanent peace.
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.
