The Western Powers must not be lulled into a false sense of security as a result of the recent United Nations cease-fire arrangements in the Middle East because the Communist bloc is continuing to ship arms to the Arab states and the danger of war persists. Zionist leaders said today in a policy statement on the Middle East issued by the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs.
“Free world powers,” the statement says, “have now recognized that an arms imbalance has developed in the Middle East as a result of Communist shipments to the Arab states. We welcome the action of France and certain other free world nations to permit Israel to purchase jet planes and other equipment essential for its defense, a first step towards restoration of the military balance.
“While our own Government has given its consent to these arms shipments to Israel by other Western Powers, we regret that the United States has failed to sell Israel the arms she has requested and to include Israel in our mutual security guarantees. It is not enough for the United States to indicate that it has no objection to the sale of such equipment by others. If it is right for others to do it, it is right for us to do it. We submit that the position of the Department of State is neither morally valid nor psychologically effective to deter potential aggression.
“While we welcome the relaxation of tensions in the Middle East that followed the cease-fire arrangements achieved by UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold and while we appreciate the effective conduct of his mission, it should be clear that these arrangements are of severely limited scope. The Hammarskjold mission did not attack the basic problem of Arab aggression and we must not allow ourselves to be lulled into the belief that the danger of war is over.
The statement concludes by declaring that “peace can be attained in the Middle East only if the Great Powers make it clear that neither side will be permitted to obtain military domination over the other; that neither side can expect concessions at the expense of the other; that no solution from without can be imposed on the parties; and that both sides must be prepared to participate in direct negotiations for a resolution of their differences.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
