Deteriorating Public Relations in Jewish THE JEWISH NEWS A Weekly Review Community Commentary, Page 2 VOLUME 24—No. 9 of Jewish Events 17100 W. 7 Mile Rd.---VE. 8-9364—Detroit 35, Mich., November 6, 1953 Jewish Book Month WA and Bond Drive Accord Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper—Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle g. Th , .. UN and Peace in Middle East Editorials, Page 4 $4.00 Per Year: Single Copy, 15c `Peace Offensive' Begun by Pro-Israel Forces cab Antagonism, Rejection of S. PI y ns, Create New Anxieties Israel Rejects U. S. Plan For Work on Jordan Waters TEL AVIV, (JTA)—The American-sponsored Tennes- see Valley Authority plan for regional development of the Jordan River is "unpracticable" and is aimed not at develop- ment of the river's resources but at preventing Israel's use of them, Pinchas Lavon, ISrael Minister without portfolio, charged at the meeting of representatives of Mapai settle- ments. Continuing his criticism of the United. States, Minister Lavon declared: "A certain nation which used to speak in ; highsounding words of the development of under-developed areas suddenly doubted Israel's right to use the little natural resources in her possession." He asserted that Israel was prepared for "every con- - ciliation," but stressed that it would not give up its "very right to existence." He emphasized that Israel has always : wanted U. S. friendship, but not 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, Jaelieves 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 settle- ment of 40,000 additional families on the land to solve Israel's agricultural problem, Mounting Arab antagonism and rejection of United States' plans for cooperative developments in the Middle East created new anxieties over the threatening war clouds in the Middle East and caused Israel's friends to start a "peace offensive," aimed at an effort to encourage direct negotia- tions for peace with Israel. Only an agreement for permanent peace in the Middle East can possibly solve the present tensions, Jewish and non-Jewish leaders pointed out this week. Appeals are being directed to the White House and the State Department in Washington as well as the United Nations, urging that all efforts be made by the statesmen of the world to effect a speedy peace between the contending factions. Increasing infiltrations into Israel territories, new acts of violence, the blowing up of an Israel train and the water pipe in the Old City of Jerusalem, served to increase the tensions. At the same time, the declaration made before his Parliament in Amman, Jordan, by the 18-year-old Jordanian King Hussein that there will be no compromise between Israel and the United States, that Jordan's policy will be "no peace with Israel" and that "no solution of the problem is possible if it does not fulfill Arab aims," increased concern over the existing conditions. Hussein, in the speech written for him by the Cabinet, declared: "We shall not make any concessions whatsoever concerning the rights of refugees from Palestine and their lands." Hussein's rejection of any compromise is interpreted as proof of the determination of Jordan to reject the Tennessee Valley Authority's Jordan River Plan advanced by Eric A. Johnston, President Eisenhower's personal envoy in the Middle East. Meantime at the United Nations the question of whether the UN Secretary Council should adopt a resolution censuring Israel for the recent retaliation raid on Kibya continued to be a matter of discussion among delegates of the United States, Britain and France while the members of the Council were awaiting clarification from Gen. Vagn Bennike, UN Palestine truce chief, on a number of questions con- cerning the Arab-Israel border situation. While Britain is pressing for the adoption of such a resolution, it became known that the United States is of the opinion that pressure must be exerted on both Israel and the Arab countries if there - is to be progress toward peace in the Middle East. Pro-Israel sentiment waxed stronger in UN circles over the week-end following the presentation made at the Security Council by Ambassador Abba Eban, head of the Israel delegation. Mr. Eban dealt specifically with Syria's charge that Israel is attempting to divert water from the Jordan River at the expense of Arabs. The Israeli delegate stressed Israel's dependence on the Jordan River, pledged that Israel would guarantee that the project would by "reconciled with the full satisfaction of all existing irrigation rights" and insisted that the project encroached on the rights of no Arab land owners. Selwyn Lloyd, British Minister of Sta to for Foreign Affairs, said in a press con- ference on a radio program of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that the Palestine problem could only be solved "step by step." lie added that his govern- ment felt that the Security Council could improve the machinery for maintaining the armistice agreements. He believed that all personnel of the truce supervision organization was con- centrated in Jerusalem, whereas if they were spread out, particularly along the section of the frontier where 80 percent of the incidents occurred, they would be more likely to prevent such acts of violence. Ben-Gurion to Quit Nov. 2Q; Alizrachist Asks He Remain • A Street for Iladassah: Mrs. JOSEPH RAVIT affixes a placard reading "Hadassah Corners" on the street sign at Livernois and Seven Mile Rds., as other workers of the Detroit Chapter of Hadassah carry posters to remind aft Detroit women of the opening of the organization's mem- , bership campaign. The intersection will bear its new desig- nation on Nov. 15, the opening of the drive by proclamation of the Common Council. Pictured, left to right, are Mes- dames FAY MOSS, Ravit, JACOB JAFFE and NORMAN ROM. ‘ -G s Heir? _13s JERUSALEM, (JTA)—The intention of Premier David Ben-Gurion to give up his office by Nov. 20 was indicated here as he began his "final round" of negotiations with leaders of his own party and with other parties of the coalition government regarding the future of the Cabinet following his withdrawal. The Premier said he expects replies from the government parties during the week in order to be able to report to the President of Israel his plans, as well as the composition of the reconstructed Cabinet, by next week-end. There is much specu- lation as to who will succeed him. It is reported that Levi Eshkol, Finance Minister, is favored by Mr. Ben-Gurion as his successor. Mapai's political committee conferred until past midnight Tuesday to discuss Ben-Gurion's official resignation. The Prime Minister hinted that after 20 years of strenuous work he would like merely to retain his seat in the Knesset. The 27 members of the committee, including For- eign Minister Moshe Sharett, participated in the debate and implored Ben-Gurion not to resign, pointing out various implications in such a step: On the party, on the coalition and the state and on he outside world. But Ben-Gurion remained firm and the political committee decided to transfer the matter to the Mapai Central Committee's meeting in Tel Aviv this week-end. If the resignation is accepted, the political committee will reconvene next week to name a successor. NEW YORK, (JTA)—Rabbi Mordecai Nurok, Mizrachi leader and member of the Israel Parliament, now visiting the United States, issued a call for a "political armistice" among all Zionist groups in Israel and outside of the Jewish State. He emphasized that all groups must request Premier David Ben-Gurion to retain his post "because we have nobody who can re- place him."