Rep. James Roosevelt, California Democrat and eldest son of the late President Franklin D.Roosevelt, stressed that the Soviet Union must be called upon by the United States to help guarantee the integrity and security of Israel, along with the similar guarantees it had already given to the Arab nations. Congressman Roosevelt was the principal speaker at today’s session of the 66th annual convention of the Zionist Organization of America, being held at ZOA House here.
Referring to the greeting sent to the ZOA parley here last week by President Kennedy, asserting that “the integrity and security of Israel and of all other free nations in the Middle East” is a matter of concern to the United States, Mr. Roosevelt said:
“If Israel is to survive, the U.S.A. must convince the Communists and the Arab world that the full strength of our military and economic resources are behind the achievement of peace between Israel and her neighbors — that we truthfully mean that these resources are totally pledged to guarantee the integrity and security of Israel, and that we shall welcome the aid of the Communist countries in achieving this aim in a context that will bring the same integrity and security to all free nations in the Middle East.”
In view of “recent news,” said Mr. Roosevelt, “it is plain that Russia and other Communist nations are making very sure” by aiding Egypt with modern weapons, that the integrity and security of the Arab states is guaranteed. “It is important, therefore,” he continued, “that the American people understand that, if there is to be integrity and security for Israel, there must be the same determination by the non-Communist nations to give the same assurance to Israel which the Communist nations are expressing to others.
U.S. AID TO ISRAEL SEEN AS MEASURE TO PREVENT AGGRESSION
“I believe,” he continued, “that only thus can there finally be a meeting of minds with respect to those conditions which must precede the final coming of peace between Israel and its neighbors. The desire to be friends with all other free nations in the Middle East, as President Kennedy puts it, must fit in with the realities of what is truly happening today.”
Should an invitation for discussing Arab-Israeli peace be declined, said Mr. Roosevelt, “it must be made clear that we are not afraid, but determined, to take whatever steps are necessary — militarily and economically — to prevent the strength of Israel’s apparent enemies from reaching a point where aggression would be too inviting to resist.”
In another address, Abraham Goodman, of New York, prominent ZOA leader, told the convention that the ZOA House “bridges the gap between Israelis and Americans.” He disclosed plans for the expansion of ZOA House and its activities, including the establishment of a USA-Israel Institute for Research, and for studies to be conducted in America and in Israel.
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