The American-sponsored Tennessee Valley Authority plan for regional development of the Jordan River is “unpracticable” and is aimed not at development of the river’s resources but at preventing Israel’s use of them, Pinchas Lavon, Israel Minister without portfolio, charged last night. He spoke at the second annual meeting of the representatives of Mapai settlements.
Continuing his criticism of the United States, Minister Lavon declared: “A certain nation which used to speak in highsounding words of the development of underdeveloped areas suddenly doubted Israel’s right to use the little natural resources in her possession.”
He asserted that Israel was prepared for “every conciliation” but stressed that it would not give up its “very right to existence.” He emphasized that Israel has always wanted United States friendship, bat act as “friendship by dictate.”
(The New York Times reported from Jerusalem that Eric Johnston, President Eisenhower’s personal envoy to the Near East, who has been visiting Israel and the Arab states in an attempt to sell them the TVA plan for development of the Jordan’s water resources, believes that “skillful diplomacy” could obtain Jordan’s and Syria’s support of the plan. Mr. Johnston was reported as believing that it is the political climate in the Arab countries which forbids their leaders from supporting the regional development plan.)
Levi Eshkol, Finance Minister, called for the settlement of 40,000 additional families on the land to solve Israel’s agricultural problem. He urged heavy settlement in the Jerusalem area.
Premier Ben Gurion devoted most of his address to the problems of youth and the immigration of pioneers to Israel. He called for an increase in the size of the average Israeli family, asserting that it should have at least four children. He also stated that there were 100,000 Israeli youths being “neglected” in towns and immigrant villages who could be educated for productive farm work.
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.
