With Egypt’s refusal today to join a Mediterranean defense pact with the Western Powers the invitation will be extended to Israel, political circles here believe.
From various sources here the impression was gained that Israel is not keen to join such an arrangement. However, the Western Powers are said to believe that by offering the Jewish state financial assistance, food and raw materials they can win Israel.
It was reported today from Tel Aviv that Israel fears that the Western Powers may offer concessions to Egypt at the cost of the Jewish state. It is felt in Israel that the invitation by the Western Powers to Egypt to join the Near East defense project–although agreed upon in principle some time ago–represents in its present hasty form an example of Western appeasement, and therefore an encouragement to the Egyptians to maintain and even intensify their policy of hostility toward Israel.
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.
