State Department and Middle East: Expedience and Realities
(Continued from Page 1)
Middle East in the event of a com-
bined Arab attack on Israel, he
was vague in his reply, indicating
uncertainty as to steps that might
be taken. But there is firmness in
the declaration that an arms race
will be avoided—and the advice
for Israel was that the military
supplies she needs are available
on world markets—but on harder
terms."
What our officialdom fails to
acknowledge—surely the facts are
at hand—is that the arms supplies
that go to the Arab states, primar-
ily to Egypt, from Soviet sources
overwhelm Israel's and multiply.
Israel's problems.
* *
Israel remains on top of the list
of the nations that are "in their
last stages" of receiving aid from
the American foreign aid program.
The completion of such aid is evi-
dent among a very few nations,
and Israel is among those heading
the countries that are showing
marked economic progress.
Meanwhile the Arab states are ,.
continuing to receive American I
aid, and Nasser's request for a
half billion dollars' worth of food
suppies for the coming three years '
is among the gigantic calls for
assistance to come from any area.
(This request was made of Assist-
ant Secretary of State Phillips
Talbot, who is in charge of African
and Middle East affairs, during his
visit in Cairo last week. It has
been reported that while our gov-
ernment's assurances have been
given to Nasser that American aid
will continue, that the Egyptian
dictator was reminded of the senti-
ments of the U.S. Congress where
resentment has been expressed
against the anti-American Nasser
policies and his arrogant advice
that the United States "jump in
the lake." Mr. Talbot was expected
in Israel, this week, for talks with
Prime Minister Levi Eshkol and
Foreign Minister Golda heir.)
Describing Israel's strengthened
economic status, a government
spokesman, pointing to low stand-
ards in many countries that are
receiving American aid, said that
"the Israelis are now way above
the $300 per capital mark."
The crisis created by the build-
ing of Israel's National Water Car-
rier is the subject of many in-
quiries. While the State Depart-
ment repeatedly reaffirms its ad-
herence to the plan that was pro-
posed 10 years ago by the late
Jordan, Israeli Troops
Trade Fire on Scopus
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Jordani-
an troops opened fire Tuesday
against an Israeli patrol in the
northwest corner of the Israeli en-
clave atop Mount Scopus. Israelis
returned the fire.
United Nations military observ-
ers in the sector immediately start-
ed negotiating a cease-fire between
the two sides. and succeeded in
bringing the shootings to halt after
15 minutes. An Israeli Army
spokesman said that there were no
casualties on Israel's side, adding
that "the patrol completed its mis-
sion."
Ground Broken in Israel
for Secondary School
OR YEHUDAH, Israel—Ground
breaking ceremonies for the Es-
telle and Eugene Ferkauf Compre-
hensive High School were observed
here Wednesday in the presence
of the couple for whom the school
is named, their three children, and
representative local and national
leaders.
Construction of the school is be-
ing made possible by Ferkauf's
gift of $600,000 to the Israel Edu-
cation Fund, a program of United
Jewish Appeal designed to help
extend education for secondary
school children, especially in the
development of towns of Israel.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
32—Friday, April 23, 1965
Eric Johnston, who was President: mated to be Arabs. The consensus
Eisenhower's personal emissary! has been that the Arab member-1
to study and seek solution for the ship is much larger. The State De-
Middle East water problem, there partment explains "the sources of;
is no end to caution addressed communist strength" in Israel in!
to Israel. The Israelis are even; this analysis as follows:
admonished that in about 10 years
"Maki is a mixed Arab-Jewish
a completed desalination program party which derives its strength
will make possible the use of wa from a hard core of ideologically-
ter from the salty Mediterranean conditioned C o In munists, aug-
at a third the cost of water sec mented at the polls by those who
ured through the Jordan` Riverand vote communist to demostrate
Lake Tiberias sources. But Israel their dissatisfaction with the gov-
can't wait that long—and Washing ernment. Most of those Arabs who
ton knows it. But it is Israel, nev vote for Maki do so toprotest
ertheless, that is admonished, and against the creation of the State
Israel's warnings are taken seri of Israel and to endorse the com-
ously, while Arab dangers mount. munist party program's special ap-;
It is on this score that the State peal to the Arabs, particularly its
Department policies are so fre position against military govern-;
quently challenged.
ment in effect in areas of Arab;
The admission that ration cards settlement. Among economically
of deceased Arab refugees who depressed Jews, especially immi-i
are on United Nations relief rolls grants from Iraq, Bulgaria, and;
—with funds coming primarily Poland, a vote for Maki is gener-
from the United States—is of spe- ally intended as a protest against;
cial interest. Our officials deny the state's failure to improve their
that the use of such ration cards standard of living. The Commu-;
is part of a scheme "to pad the nists do notplay a significant role;
refugee rolls." But there is the in Israeli politics and constitute!
admission that Jordan keeps the only 2.8% of the trade union mem- 1
refugees in concentrated camps in bership, a percentage smaller
order to keep the refugees as "a than they hold in the parliment.
Palestine entity, thereby - to keep Maki has taken a strong pro-
the refugee issue alive as a weap- Soviet position in the conflict be-
on against Israel. There is also tween Peking and Moscow. A few ,
the admission that ration cards dissidents who expressed pro-
are being bought by persons who Chinese sentiments left Maki and
seek "to make profit for them- reportedly plan to establish a sep-
I arate party."
selves."
Insofar as Nasser is concerned,
the feeling here is that "we are
getting along somewhat better"
with him, that there has been "no
major progress," but that "in the
absence of further recriminations"
there is a measure of improve-
ment in U.S.-Egyptian relations.
An important official saw fit to
emphasize that "Nasser kept re-
markably silent about our relations
with Germany in the arms deal that
was abandoned by Bonn." This is
used as evidence that there are
indications from important chan-
nels - that Nasser seeks restoration
of better relations with this
country.
The refusal of some of the Afri-
can countries to go along with
Nasser against Israel also was con-
sidered a valuable development.
But Assistant Secretary of State
for African Affairs G. Mennen
Williams said there was recurring
evidence of efforts to unite Afri-
cans against Israel. Most sources
point to the failure of Nasser to
counteract Israel's good relations
with many African nations.
A State Department spokesman
had an interesting comment on the
recent attacks on Israel by Chin-
ese Communist leaders. He said
that such attacks had no signifi-
cance whatever, that they are due
primarily to China's regarding
Israel "as being pro-Western, and
it's cheap to attack Israel — they
haven't lost anything."
Concern over the Arab diver-
sionary tactics in the utilization
of the Jordan River's sources are
being minimized here. "The Arabs
have done very little . on the
ground, having leveled only 10
miles in their diversion plan," one
official said. "I would estimate
that no serious utilization of their
project is in view for two or three
years." he added. Yet. it is said
that Jordan already is making full
use of Yarmuk River waters.
* *
There is frequent reference here
to "Communist efforts to exploit
the Middle East situation." This
is emphasized in State Department
literature and in public warning
not to aggravate the Arabs.
An important State Department
publication, "World Strength of
Communist Party Organizations,"
describes the status of the Israel
Communist Maki Party. Of the 120
members of the Knesset, five seats
are held by the Maki whose total
vote in the last election was 42,-
111-4 per cent of the country's
total. The State Department analy-
sis states that the Israel Commu-
nist party's membership is less
than 2,000, of whom 500 are esti-
the matters as developed in this
The point is that the charge
pamphlet are frequently referred made against the State Depart-
to as continuing American policy. ! ment that it bars access to the
* *
! documents Nt, as unjustified.
Israel's roles in many areas are
delineated in State Department of-
At a recent briefing session in-
ficial publications. "Foundation ; volving State Department officials,
Stones of Peace," for example, re- 1 an interesting question was posed.
fers to Israel's participation in ! The interrogator asked what the
health, education and welfare pro- U.S. is doing about the 50,000 neo-•
jects encouraged by the U.S. "The Nazis who are operating in Argen-
Aid Program" lists foreign aid tina. The existence of a Nazi
benefits derived by Israel and the . menace was confirmed but the
Arab nations. There is an exten- ; State Department's inability to act
sive analysis of the situation in- in such internal matters was em-
volving Israel and the Arabs in phasized. The official told of
"The United States and the Mid- American Jewish Committee ef-
dle East."
forts to get action against the
The firmness of the U.S. in the Nazis and there was an evident
matter of recognizing Jerusalem concern over the existence of a
as the capital of Israel is to be spreading anti-Semitism in Late
found in the pamphlet "Status of America.
the United Nations." Listing Is-
State Department officials often
rael's population as 2,428,000, as
1963—in an 8,000-square-mile area are on the spot. When pressed for
—there is this not attached to the explanations they have the facts
reference to Jerusalem (defacto) on their finger-tips and very often
status: "In 1950 the Israel Parlia- there are admissions of bending-
ment proclaimed Jerusalem the , backward policies, as in the case
capital. The U.S. Government does ; of the Middle East, where the
not recognize Jerusalem as the communist threat adds to this
I government's worries. There is too
capital, and the U.S. Embassy con-
tinues to be located in Tel Aviv." ; little done, however, to encourage
! the admittedly "pro-Western" Is-
A pamphlet, "Educational and rael.
Cultural Diplomacy," tells of
There is no doubt that the State
chairs established in American
literature at the Hebrew Univer- Department often bends back-
sity and the Tel Aviv University. wards to be pro-Nasser to appease
It lists other cultural functions sup- the Arabs it is the fear for com-
ported and encouraged by the munism that causes it, and expedi-
***
ence all-too-frequently creates the
United States.
The State Department apparent-
* * *
enigmas of leaning towards pro-
ly adheres to its opposition to any
There are frequent complaints communists while fearing the com-
efforts to interfere with the Arab about State Department "pre- munists and meanwhile harmirm\
boycott of American firms that judices." A recent charge con- the pro-Western little state of
have dealings with Israel or that, tended that the U.S. government raeal. Such are the injustices Or
are owned by Jews by means of was barring access to documenta- modern diplomacy.
Congressional action.
tion on Nazi war criminals in the
A well-trained State Department
The Department's position on Is- Alexandria, Va., center.
could, in the view of many ob-
rael is outlined in a paperback,
The fact is that the available servers, accomplish much more
"American Foreign Policy Today," data can be studied by those de-, by refusing to yield to Nasserism,
by Temple Wanamaker, with an in- siring access to the center. But, by calling the bluffs of the aggres-
troduction by Secretary f State knowledge of German is necessary, sors. But as long as present poli-
Rusk. It goes into detail in analyz- and those seeking access to the cies persist, Israel, will always
ing the Middle East situation and documents either should know have to remain on the alert
describes "American efforts at im- _German or should have an inter- and her friends will be compelled
proving relations between the preter with them.
to be vigilant.
Arab states and Israel" as follow-
ing these :
1. Supporting the efforts of the
4.,
112'11
UN to prevent border incidents;
2. attempting to get Israel and the
Arab states to conform to the Eric
Johnston water plan (the develop-
ing friction is indicated); 3. trying
t o develop a plan for the resettle-
Z.nr.
/7101j71.7. 4
ment of Arabs who fled from Pal-
estine in 1948; 4. keeping a bal- tvpp
r47 .ntite
tap;
ance of arms.
ns..7
tth'kt
n57 ./.10?pz n4K,
While this is a plan "on paper,"
I
•
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in 141
Hebrew Corner
Floating Ulpan
Eddie Jacobson visited Israel as a
tourist. He traveled throughout the
length and breadth of the land. He
met people from various countries. With
some he spoke English, with others
Yiddish. But with many he communi-
cated by means of gestures, as they
spoke only Hebrew. In his boyhood,
while studying for his Bar Mitzvah. he
learned how to pray from the Hebrew
Prayer Book, but even now did not
fully understand the words. While still
in America, he had decided that when
he could free himself from business
affairs, he would devote time to the
study of Hebrew.
Returning from Israel to America, he
sailed on a ship for two weeks. The
ship made its way leisurely, and there
was much free time. How fine it would
be, he thought, if I could use these
days for the study of Hebrew. but who
would organize Hebrew lessons for
me here?
And then he learned that the Brit
Ivrit Olamit had organized a Floating
Hebrew Ulpan on board ship. Many of
the passengers registered for the He-
brew lessons. He met the teacher, who
had been sent from Israel, and arranged
with him to be included among the stu-
dents of the Ulpan. How did the idea
of a Floating Hebrew Ulpan originate?
He was interested to know. and the
teacher told him that the Brit Ivrit Ola-
mit organized an Ulpan on the S.S.
Olympia and the S.S. Queen Anna Maria
of the Greek Line Shipping Co. which
sails the route New York-Haifa-New
York. In this Ulpan, lessons in Hebrew
are given to beginners and advanced
students, as well as lessons in the
Bible and Jewish history.
Modern methods of instruction are
employed, including the audio-visual sys-
tem with tape-recordings and short films.
Hebrew songs are taught and Israeli
evenings organized. All passengers and
tourists may join the Ulpan free of
charge. At the end of the journey,
Eddie Jacobson disembarked happy and
in good spirits, knowing that he had
made good use of his dine aboard ship
and had acquired knowledge of the
Hebrew language and culture.
—Translation of Hebrew column
Published by the Brit Ivrit Olamit,
Jerusalem
17
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