Israel must cooperate with the United Nations to the “utmost of our capacity,” Premier David Ben Gurion told his people last night. He spoke at the opening session of the 30th meeting of the Histadrut Council which was attended by more than 280 delegates and representatives of labor movements abroad.
The Premier noted that while it was not difficult to find fault with the UN, it was that body which would eventually establish peace and justice in the world. In the meanwhile, be continued, Israel must rely on its own power for self-defense and survival and must intensify its military preparedness.
Mr. Ben Gurion declared that in determining its foreign policy, Israel cannot restrict itself to its own needs alone. It must, he pointed out, take into account the existence of the two major centers of Jewry in the world–the United States and the Soviet Union. American Jews, he added, have given inestimable assistance in the development of the Jewish State.
Despite the fact that Soviet Jewry is in no position at this moment to even deny the “slanders” against Israel in the Soviet press, he declared, “we must not despair of their future.” He expressed confidence that Soviet Jewry will yet join with the Jews of Israel in building the state.
After a detailed review of post-World War II developments, Mr. Ben Gurion noted that two major powers had arisen in the world–the United States and the Soviet Union “Naturally,” he said, “we shall neither prostrate ourselves before the golden calf nor be intimidated by the ferocious bear.” He expressed Israel’s determination to criticize “false ideologies even if a hundred armored divisions stand behind them,” but said Israel aims at normal relations on a basis of equality with all states, regardless of their internal regimes.
In a recorded address, George Meany, president of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, called on the United Nations Emergency, Force to remain in Sinai after British, French and Israeli troops are evacuated aid until Israel and Egypt sign a peace agreement and until free passage of water says (Suez Canal and Strait of Tiran) is assured to all nations. Mr. Meany said that the American labor movement would ask the United States to extend its recently enunciated guarantee for the integrity of the borders of the member states of the Bagdad Pact to Israel and other Middle East countries.
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.
