Senate Body Bars Check on Aid to Egypt
WASHINGTON, (JTA)—The Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted
an amendment eliminating from the foreign aid bill the Keating-Halpern amend-
ment which would deny aid to countries like Egypt which use their own funds
Kennedy's
Move to Amend
Vicious
immigration
Law
Editorial
Page 4
Vol. XLI I I, No. 23
to buy Soviet arms. The committee also eliminated a policy statement calling
for freedom of navigation in international waterways, and the right of Americans
of Jewish faith to travel and do business in Arab countries. -
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Washington Wants Israel, Egypt
Support of Atom Ban as 'Policy'
Fulbright Questions Motives
of Jewish Agencies in U.S.,
Says Israel Too Rich for Aid
Heads of national Jewish organizations and Zion-
ist leaders are showing concern over the apparent an-
tagonistic attitude of Senator J. W. Fulbright of Arkan-
sas, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Com-
mittee, who insists upon probing the status not only
of the American Zionist Council, but
also of the activities of the Jewish Ap-
peal and other Jewish overseas relief
movements. It is believed that pres-
sures from the American Council for
Judaism are primarily responsible for
the evident antagonism. Sen. Ful-
bright's attitude has aroused concern
also among other Senators who are
friendly to Israel and who disapprove
of the extreme position taken by Ful
bright. Senator Fulbright, who already
:
Fulbright
has questioned a number of Jewish
Agency leaders, planned to summon the heads of the
Agency for a hearing at an open session of his commit-
tee.
The relationship between the Jewish Agency and
the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was explored by Ful-
bright during his questioning of Jewish Agency repre-
sentatives as part of his committee's study of non-dip-
lomatic activities of representatives of foreign govern-
ments. The transcript of the executive hearing held
May 23 was issued here on Wednesday.
Gottlieb Hammer, who was executive director of
the Jewish agency until 1960, told Fulbright how the
Jewish Agency had become involved in the JTA situ-
ation. He referred to the JTA's financial difficulties
in 1950 and declared:
"The Jewish Agency stepped into the picture in
order to preserve the existence of a news agency which
specialized in the dissemination of Jewish news of par-
ticular interest to communities in the United States and
Continued on Page. 5
WASHINGTON, (JTA) — State Department sources said that Israel
and Egypt have been urged to subscribe to the American-British-Soviet ban on
nuclear weapons testing as part of the overall policy of the United States, and
not because the nuclear potential of the two countries is being taken seriously.
There is no current evidence to justify either Israeli or Egyptian fears
of nuclear attack from the other, it was stressed. It was emphasized that, in
the official American view, neither of the two countries is within sight of nu-
clear arms capability, although the United States desires abandonment of any
such objectives in the Middle East.
(Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser announced in Cairo that his gov-
ernment would adhere to the nuclear test ban treaty initialed in Moscow last
week by the U.S., Britain and the Soviet Union. At the same time, it was reported
in London that Egypt is now operating at least one plant full tim€ producing
poison gas.)
* * *
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News)
JERUSALEM—The Israel government officially announced Wednesday
its decision to join the nuclear test ban treaty which was initialed in Moscow
last week by the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union.
Israel's adherence to the nuclear pact, which was expected to be
voted at the cabinet meeting next Sunday, was understood here Wednes-
day to have been unanimously approved during inter-ministerial contacts
between Prime Minister Levi Eshkol, Foreign Minister Golda Meir and the
members of the cabnet.
The decision was conveyed to the ambassadors in. Tel Aviv of the United
States, Britain and the Soviet Union who were invited by Mrs. Meir to the
Foreign Ministry at noon Wednesday. The Israeli decision to join in the pact
is in accordance with the third article of the treaty which permits accession at
any time by other countries. The offical government announcement stated:
"The Government of Israel welcomes the tripartite treaty initialed
in Moscow on July 25 banning nuclear weapons tests in the atmosphere,
outer space and the under the sea. Israel has consistently supported in
the past all efforts to ban nuclear tests. The Government of Israel regards this
agreement , as an important step towards the relaxation of international ten-
sions and expresses the hope that it will be followed by further concrete
measures for the attainment of complete and general disarmament. The
Government of Israel announces its intent to sign the treaty when it is
open for signature."
Prime Minister Levi Eshkol meanwhile welcomed the three-power nu-
clear agreement as a "positive step towards the relaxation of international prob-
lems." Addressing a conference here of an Israel Bond Leadership group from
Chicago, Eshkol also expressed hope that the resultant change. of atmosphere
would bring about improvement in the situation of Soviet Jewry, and that Rus-
Kennedy Tells JWV He May
Consider Intervention with Soviet
to Relieve USSR Pressures on Jews
WASHINGTON, (JTA)—President Kennedy indicated that he may consider
friendly intervention with the Soviet authorities to relieve pressures on Jews
in the Soviet Union. He also indicated that he was observing the Egyptian rocket
build-up, with an appreciation of Israel's concern.
The President expressed his sentiments to National Commander Morton
London, of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, who was received
in the White House. Citing the prospect of a thaw in American-Soviet relations,
London told the President that the time might be ripe for Presidential intercession
with Soviet leaders on behalf of Russian Jews.
London cited a recent State Department letter to the JWV, containing evidence
of the increasing persecution of Jews in Russia. President Kennedy made it appar-
ent that he would give the Russian Jewish situation further thought, and that he
was concerned.
In his half-hour meeting with the President, London also cited aspects of the
Egyptian military build-up, and contended that the State Department may not have
properly evaluated developments. Mr. Kennedy then revealed that he was following
the situation very closely. His response was attentive, sympathetic, and encourag-
ing, said London.
The JWV commander commended the President on his liberal immigration
proposals to phase out the national origins quota system. The President appre-
ciated the support of the Jewish community on immigration reform and on his
civil rights program. London told Kennedy that the JWV would try to help
implement integration by participating actively in local bi-racial committees and
on the legislative front. London was accompanied by Felix Putterman, JWV
national legislative director.
Continued on Page 3
Moscow and Israel Chief Rabbis
in Dispute Over Right to Supply
Prayerbooks to Soviet Union Jewry
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—A protest by Moscow's Chief Rabbi Yehuda Leib Levin
to the Israel Embassy in the Soviet capital against alleged distribution by Embassy
staff members of Hebrew prayerbooks and prayer shawls to Moscow Jews was
received here and it evoked immediate reaction on the part of Israel's Chief
Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim.
The Israeli Chief Rabbi categorically rejected the allegations contained in
the protest of the Moscow rabbi that the Israel Embassy had "disturbed" the
peace of the Jewish community in Moscow by distributing religious articles
in the synagogue there. In his letter of reply to the Moscow rabbi, the Chief Rabbi
of Israel expressed "regret and deep hurt" over the fact that religious leaders
of the Moscow Jewish community protested to the Israeli Embassy.
"Even if the Embassy officials did provide the members of the synagogue in
Moscow with religious articles, how could this be regarded as a disturbance?,"
Chief Rabbi Nissim argued in his letter. Pointing out that it is generally known
that there is a great shortage in the Soviet Union of prayerbooks, prayer shawls,
mezuzoth and other Jewish religious articles, Rabbi Nissim expressed hope that
"by Divine intervention, all barriers to our Soviet brethren in obtaining needed'
religious articles will be lifted." He added that "if Israel Embassy officials did
alleviate the dire shortage of such articles, they should be blessed rather than
censured."
Rabbi Levin's protest had been sent in his name and in the name of the elders
of the Central Synagogue in Moscow. They urged the Israeli Embassy to halt the
distribution of the religious articles, saying they were not needed by the congre-
gation, and asking the Embassy to desist from such further gifts.
The letter charged the Embassy with abusing the hospitality of the Moscow
synagogue by "sowing confusion and bitterness" among the worshipers. Until the
Embassy officials appeared on the scene, the letter stated, synagogue prayers
were carried out in joy and holy splendor.