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U.S. Jews Reported Serving in Saudi Arabia with American Forces

June 11, 1963
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Congressman Emanuel Celler, New York Democrat, speaking last night over radio station WMCA, disclosed that American Jews are now serving in the U. S. armed forces in Saudi Arabia which had in the past insisted on the elimination of Jews from the American military base there.

The Congressman quoted as his authority a letter from Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell L. Gilpatric, stating that American units engaged in Joint military training exercises with Saudi Arabian troops include personnel of Jewish faith.

(In Washington, U.S. official sources voiced regret that Mr. Gilpatric’s “private letter” was publicized. These sources termed the publicity “premature, unfortunate and ill-advised. ” It was pointed out that the sensitive agreement was reached, with intervention on a White House level, and the need for avoidance of publicity was known to responsible persons in and out of the government for several weeks. The Administration has been striving quietly behind the scenes to end Arab discrimination against Americans of Jewish faith,)

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