Golda Meir Reviews American-israel Relations in Knesset Speech

American-Israel relations were reviewed today in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, by Foreign Minister Golda Meir who praised the efforts of the U.S. Government to bring peace, security and freedom to the world. She spoke during a debate on the budget of the Foreign Ministry.

“We derive encouragement from President Kennedy’s endeavors to introduce increasing understanding between East and West and we follow with special interest the creation of a peace corps, ” she said. She noted that during the eight years of Republican administration, we were in a firm relationship of friendship” with all echelons of the U.S. Administration,

Declaring that American aid “helped a good deal to fructify and expand our economy, ” she told the Knesset: “I would be less than truthful if I were not to add that there were differences of opinion between us and severe ones at that. Nevertheless, with all the divergencies of approach, deep friendship sustained on the part of the American people and their leaders toward our undertaking, proved an enduring base for relations between us.”

“It is too early to speak about the approach of the new U.S. Administration to questions that vex our region. ” Mrs. Meir continued. However, she cited a statement by the Vice President a few weeks ago declaring that the American Government believed in the possibility of reducing the burden of armaments. “Towards that objective,” Mrs. Meir asserted, “Washington will find a loyal partner in the Israel Government.”

The Foreign Minister warned that UAR propaganda was seeking to exploit restiveness in Latin America to the detriment of Israel. She noted that Arab propaganda had increased in South America.