Yigal Allon Tells Israel Bond Conference Peace is Fundamental Aim of Israel

Major General Yigal Allon, Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, told more than 2,000 Jewish leaders from the United States and Canada assembled here for the International Conference for Israel Bonds, that “peace always was, is and will be the fundamental national aim of the State of Israel.” He said that Israel was willing to respect the cease-fire lines until “defendable frontiers, acceptable to all, will be determined.” But he warned that “all provisional arrangements between Israel and the Arab countries have only assured a permanent and prolonged war.”

Asserting that Israel has no objections to the participation of a third party in paving the way to direct negotiations with the Arab countries, General Allon charged that the persistent refusal on their part to enter into such negotiations was a calculated attempt “to fix in the minds of the international community of nations the idea that Israel is some sort of ‘pariah’ with whom we should not come into contact, with the exception of one form of contact–on the battlefield.” Underscoring the need for greatly increased economic aid through the Israel Bond campaign, the Deputy Premier declared: “Israel must build her society as if she were not living in a state of perpetual danger, and yet she must look to her security as if full-scale war was unavoidable.”

Mayor John V. Lindsay of New York, told the conference that Israel’s existence was being jeopardized by “the reckless acts of great powers, seeking political profit at the expense of the world’s security.” Condemning talk of “even-handedness” in American policy in the Middle East, Mr. Lindsay observed that the assumption by the United States of the role of a “benevolent neutral” among the great powers would be tantamount to “an abdication of our moral responsibility.” Mayor Lindsay assailed the Soviet Union which he said was determined to win for itself a foothold in the Middle East, “regardless of the cost in human lives and suffering.” Deploring recent developments in America’s position, the Mayor asked who would balance the massive Soviet shipments of arms to the Arabs and who would stand by “a surrounded, outnumbered small nation” if the United States, Israel’s traditional ally, assumed the posture of neutrality. “Our policy must be to preserve peace in the Middle East,” Mr. Lindsay declared. “Yet today that goal can only be achieved by insuring that Israel is immune from attack.”

MRS. MEIR SAYS ISRAEL’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPENDS ON INCREASED U.S. AID

Prime Minister Golda Meir of Israel, in a message to the conference Friday, declared that in the present crisis her country could not maintain its economic development without increased American financial support. Asserting that the Six-Day War has continued for almost three years, the Israel Premier said that the people of Israel were determined, despite their overwhelming defense burden, to build for the future “because they do not want Israel to become a country only of war and battle.” “We cannot do it alone.” Mrs. Meir said. “If we want the country to develop, if we want properly to absorb the new immigrants that are coming in, if we want to maintain our progress in education and culture, if we want Israel to go on building at the same time as it is defending itself, we must have your help, and we hope that you will be with us.”

At an earlier session, delegates of the Zionist Organization of America heard New York Congressman Ogden R. Reid, former American Ambassador to Israel, urge the administration to grant the request made by Prim Minister Meir last September for additional Phantoms in light of the recent French sale of Mirages to Libya. Mr. Reid said that Israel is at a six to one disadvantage in supersonic aircraft and the proposed French shipment of planes to Libya “only makes this ratio worse.” The New York legislator called for a return to “quiet diplomacy to facilitate direct talks” and urged that the United States do nothing “to preempt Israel’s bargaining position.”

A history-making initial sale of $76,580,000 in Israel Bonds Saturday launched the biggest campaign for economic aid to the State of Israel since it proclaimed its independence 22 years ago. The announcement of the record-breaking result was made by Samuel Rothberg, National Campaign Chairman. This year’s drive will seek to achieve an unprecedented goal of a $250 million sale of Israel Bonds which provide the investment funds for major industrial and agricultural projects, the exploitation of natural resources, the construction of housing and highways and the development of harbor and sea and air transportation facilities.