The Zionist Federation of Great Britain today expressed its “grave apprehensions” over the Anglo-American policy of arming the Arab states. In a statement, the Zionist Federation declared that this policy was “likely to have dangerous consequences for the Middle East,” especially in view of the continued campaign of threats and hostility by Egypt and the other Arab states, and their “stubborn refusal” to negotiate a settlement of outstanding differences.
The Zionist statement pointed out that the “inevitable result” of the policy pursued by the U.S. with the support of the British Government will be an arms race in the Middle East which must endanger economic progress and upset the precarious status quo in the region. The statement charged that Egypt and the other Arab states desire to obtain arms not for defensive purposes “but for strengthening the present totalitarian regimes and settling their account with Israel.”
Another influential London newspaper today supported Israel’s protests against the British Government’s decision to lift the arms embargo on Egypt, Charging that this action by Britain will assist a “minor arms race,” the London Tribune said: “One betrayal by Britain helped provoke the first Israeli-Arab war. There must never be a second.”
Recent incidents along Israel’s borders with the Arab states are the fault of the Western Powers, who permit them to continue, Christopher Hollis, influential Conservative M. P., declared here on a BBC broadcast. Mr. Hollis insisted that Israel was here to stay and any “wild talk” of driving the Jews into the sea was “harmful and wicked folly.” He also said it was a pure accident that the Old City of Jerusalem had not been destroyed in the last Israel-Jordan clash and warned that it would almost certainly fall victim in the next outbreak of violence in Jerusalem.
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.
