Israel has convinced the world, during its 18 years of existence, of its capacity, determination and will” to defend its borders and its skies and “this is the great political reality of 1966 in terms of Israel’s survival,” John F. Henning, Undersecretary of Labor, declared here tonight.
Addressing the opening of the 57th annual convention of Bnai Zion, the American fraternal Zionist organization, Mr. Henning denounced the “madness” of President Nasser of Egypt and stressed that Israel was “in no way a threat” to the security of its Arab neighbors. He contrasted Israel’s 8, 000 square miles and 2, 500, 000 people with the 4, 400, 000 square miles and 101, 000, 000 people of the 13 Arab countries and called “incredible” any assertion that “Israel jeopardizes the security of the Arab nations of the Middle East.”
He also told the 500 delegates that “as Americans, we must give Israel the sinews of life.” He urged that American Jews “never forget” that they “must stand watch over the survival of Israel.” He also called for educational and study facilities for children of Oriental Jews who have settled in Israel. He said the children were from “deprived cultures” who had come into a “progressive and dynamic” society where they must be educated to the demands of a 20th century society.
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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.
