U.S. Labor Zionists Hold Two-day Parley; Hear Report on Israel’s Security

Meir Argov, chairman of the Foreign Relations and Security Committee of the Israeli Parliament and general secretary of the World Confederation of Labor Zionists, told the two-day meeting of the national council of the Labor Zionist Organization of America that Israel is facing a dual test in the field of military security and mass absorption of new immigrants.

He stressed that as long as the East-West cold war continued the Arabs might be tempted to assault Israel on the theory that they could get away with it. Mr. Argov stated that although Israel had overcome its enemies twice, it had not gained peace. “Victory in battle,” he said, “does not necessarily guarantee us peace. Israel will fight if necessary if the Arabs attempt either to prevent the completion of the Jordan-Negev irrigation plant or if they try to cut off the sea route to Eilat.”

Reporting on the current political atmosphere in Israel, Mr. Argov noted that the “country has calmed down since the elections and the narrow coalition Government has a good chance of holding on for a full four-year term. Mapai will have to work hard to make the people conscious of the fact that a weak and unstable government is a tragedy for democracy and for Israel.”

The national council proclaimed a membership drive and expanded effort on behalf of Jewish education throughout the United States. Pinchas Cruso, president of the organization, and Louis Segal, member of the Jewish Agency executive, reported on the latest developments in the American Zionist Council. Other speakers included Dr. Sol Stein, executive director of the Histadrut campaign; Isaiah Avrech, American representative of Histadrut and Haim Sanderson, North American director of El Al Israel National Airlines.