The Israel Parliament last night upheld the Cabinet’s decision to support the United Nations Security Council resolution calling for aid to South Korea.
In one of the tensest moments since the inception of the Jewish state, and following an excoodingly acrimonious debate, the Knesset adopted a vote of confidence by 68 to 20, with eight abstentions. Previously, a Mapam motion for a vote of no confidence was defeated by 79 to 19, with the right-wing Herut refusing to join the left-wing Socialists despite its own opposition to the government.
The debate was closed for the government by Premier David Ben Curion who declared that the threat of war has not yet passed, but “has been decreased by the action of the United Nations.” He called the Security Council’s action the “greatest blow against aggression” since the last World War.
“Our stand as world citizens has been greatly strengthened by the government’s decision,” he insisted, adding that it was only from this point of view that the government made its decision. “Israel,” he said, “faces a tremendous moral problem: world peace and peace for Israel, or aggression. We are a small nation, but we have to stand on our own, unbiased and unbribed.”
The Premier’s speech was punctuated by shouts of “untrue, lie” from the leftwing benches. The Speaker of the House was forced to call several members to order during the course of the speech.
This morning the Cabinet heard a report by Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett on Korean developments and on world reaction to the conflict. The Cabinet also discussed financial problems in connection with immigration and abserption. It appointed a special Ministerial committee to deal with the issuance of permits to Israelis desiring to go aboad on various missions.
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.
