U.S. Middle East Policy Termed Unfair to Israel in Congress

A number of Democratic members of the House today took the occasion of Israel’s seventh anniversary to demand a change of present policies in the Near East which they described as unfair to Israel, especially the arms aid and defense situation.

Rep. Charles A. Boyle, Illinois, said he was “alarmed at the present policy of the State Department in our present administration in the Arab-Israel controversy–a policy which is clearly and definitely pro-Arab and therefore, necessarily is anti-Israel.” Rep. Boyle charged before the House that “the attitude of the present administration ignores the true facts concerning the Arab-Israel situation.” He said that “in view of the belligerent statements made by the Arab leaders” the United States “cannot trust the Arabs” to use U.S. munitions granted for the purposes intended by this country.

Rep. Thomas L. Ashley, Ohio, said: “At a time when our own State Department describes as ‘impartial’ a policy by which free military assistance is given to Iraq while arms are sold to Israel, it is clear that we must reconsider the values upon which free and independent Israel is founded. And certainly we must change our policies to meet a definition of ‘impartial’ more in keeping with our honest American standards.”

Rep. Barratt O’Hara, Illinois, warned the House that “it can happen that guns and ammunition intended for one purpose are put to a quite different use.” He said “it is not wise that we should be a party in any way or in any sense to contributing to the great and grave dangers facing Israel in an inflamed area.” Another Illinois Democrat, Rep. Sidney Yates, charged that “the policy of our State Department in the Middle East is moving more toward promoting hostility rather than peace.”

Other members of the House rose to congratulate Israel on its anniversary. They included 15 Congressmen, from both parties, and represented nearly a dozen states.