American policy in the present Middle East crisis is was criticized here today by Philip Klutznick, national president of B’nai B’rith, addressing the 43rd annual meeting of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.
The Jewish leader said he was “not proud” of United States pressure on Britain and France to withdraw its forces from the Suez area by withholding American aid to those counties. He warned that this might “isolate” the United States from its true friends. He said he found the United States “consistently voting (at the United Nations) against tried and true friends” while “playing footsie” with this nation’s enemies.
Mr. Klutznick warned of the futility of UN proposals which fail to embrace a program of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Arab states. He cautioned that Mr. Hammarskjold’s efforts might be limited to a scope endorsed by Moscow and Cairo. “If American policy veers in this direction it ignores, if not contradicts the policy expressed by President Eisenhower in his televised Middle East report earlier this month in which he properly defined the need for UN action that would explore and correct the basic, underlying causes of conflict in the Middle East,” Mr. Klutznick declared.
NASSER REGIME HAS BEEN “RESURRECTED.” EBAN CHARGES
Israel Ambassador Abba Eban, addressing the conference, charged that the Nasser regime in Egypt has been “revived from dust.” He said that Col. Nasser has been “resurrected” and has re-embarked on his same totalitarian path while enjoying the protection of the United Nations. Mr. Eban made known that Israel looks with “alarm” at the “present cleavage” in the Western bloc. He cautioned that if such wounds are not quickly healed they would become deeper. He called for resumption of Western cooperation as a matter of priority.
The Ambassador justified Israel’s military action reporting that Israel presently enjoys a measure of peace and security never known before. He predicted Israel’s vindication by history and cited expressions of understanding in the world’s press. He reiterated Israel’s intention of withdrawing its troops from Egyptian territory. But he expressed Israel’s desire that the withdrawal be accompanied by measures insuring eventual peace rather than abrupt reconstruction of conditions that led to the present situation.
The Ambassador expressed concern lest the United Nations restore the situation existing before the explosion occurred. He warned that this could lead to a restoration of the anti-Israel blockade, re-establishment of bases for aggression, and resumption of fedayeen raids.
On the occasion of the ADL’s presentation of its 1956-57 America’s Democratic Legacy medallions to outstanding members of the three major faiths for their “contributions to the enrichment of America’s democratic legacy, “President Eisenhower said in a message that the organization “has performed a splendid service in reminding the nation that the ideals of religion must apply in all areas of life.” This year’s winners are Secretary of Labor James P. Mitchell, Sen. Herbert Lehman and Mayor Charles P. Taft of Cincinnati.
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.
