Spirit of Unity Marks Israel's 19th Anniversary Celebration
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
JERUSALEM—Israel's problems were forgotten—or ignored—as a
united nation marked the state's 19th anniversary with numerous events
over a long week-end. There were festivities in the synagogues and homes
Saturday, public functions Sunday morning, a torchlight "tattoo" parade
Sunday night and the formal parade Monday morning.
As on the eve of the Sabbath, the legal holiday on Monday actually
commenced at noon Sunday, normally a work day.
The chief factor of interest on the diplomatic front—the boycott of
Monday's parade by the major world powers—Britain, the United States,
France and Russia—became a laughing matter here. Israel adhered to the
agreement with Jordan that there should be no display of war tanks or
armored weapons. Why, then, the Big Powers' boycott? It is interpreted
here as a flirtation by Britain and the U.S. with the Arab nations and
France's relief in being able to minimize a prejudiced attitude toward
Israel. Russia's pro-Syrian role accounts for the USSR position in local
thinking.
But while the Big Powers boycotted the Monday parade, their envoys
attended President Shazar's formal reception the preceding afternoon.
This is what has made the boycott a farce.
Meanwhile, there has begun a year-long plan for Israel's 20th anni-
versary celebration in 1968, and the advance projected program is for
a military display that will "atone" for the 1967 "shortcomings."
(Related story Page 40.)
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IN/1 ICHIGA N
of Jewish Events
Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper — Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle
VOLUME LI.—No. 9
17100 W. 7 Mile Rd.—VE 8-9364—Detroit 48235, May 19, 1967
Editorials
Page 4
$6.00 Per Year; This Issue 20c
Egyptian Army Moves Regarded
as War of Nerves Based on Threat
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News)
Compromise Boycott
Bill Just Empty Words
By MILTON FRIEDMAN
(Copyright, 1967, JTA, Inc.)
WASHINGTON—A 1965 compromise by backers of legislation
against the Arab boycott has returned to haunt those who succumbed
to administration pressures to water down the original anti-boycott
bill.
Spokesmen for the Commerce and State departments gave
their solemn pledge that, if mandatory wording were eliminated,
the administration would vigorously fulfill the objectives sought.
Arab dictation to American business concerns would be rejected.
All" American firms would be encouraged by the government to
defy the Arabs. They would be free to trade with Israel without
fear of revenge. Washington was prepared to take the strongest
stands in Arab capitals—if only the mandatory phrases were
eliminated from the law.
In order to be "reasonable" and to "show due respect" to the
administration, the forces entrusted with the anti-boycott fight
agreed to extract the teeth as requested. The administration-approved
remnant easily passed. It would have passed anyway, with some
embarrassment to the Executive Department, had the fight for a
truly effective statute been waged to its logical conclusion.
Despite the law, the boycott continued, striking company after
company. All the Commerce Department did was to keep statistics.
These figures proved a source of amusement when a government
statistician actually tabulated and added alleged instances of Israeli
boycotts against the Arabs. This was halted when it was shown
that Israel was forced to issue shipping orders to avoid Arab
seaports to prevent arbitrary confiscation of Israeli goods.
The State Department decided not to make firm representations
in defense of boycotted American firms. Officials pointed out that
law
was not mandatory. In their judgment, strong intercessions
the
Would merely offend the Arabs, worsen the boycott, and undermine
other aspects of American-Arab relations. The State Department
did not want to be seen in Arab capitals as the advocate of Israel
even though the rights of American commerce were violated.
So many complaints accumulated that Sen. Jacob K. Javits,
New York Republican, and Sen. Harrison A. Williams, Jr., New
Jersey Democrat, this session jointly asked the Senate to hold
hearings to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of
the anti-boycott statutes. The Senate committee concerned, heeding
State Department guidance, avoided the issue.
A different situation emerged in the House. Rep. Seymour
Halpern, New York Republican, is ranking minority member of
the international trade subcommittee. He had fought in vain in
1965 for mandatory regulations. He had warned the House that
his experience with administration promises led him to believe
that the compromise would undermine the bill. The Arabs later
exploited the precise loopholes to which he referred.
Halpern, angered because the Arab boycott rolls merrily on,
has gained support. Another subcommittee member, Rep. Fernand
to
St. Germain, Rhode Island Democrat, sought to amend a bill an
U.S. Export-Import Bank by adding
extend the life of the . maneuver
failed but the Arab issue was
anti-boycott clause. The
revived.
New
York
Democrat, is a new member
Rep. Jonathan Bingham,
of the parent Committee on Banking and Currency. Bingham offered
another anti-boycott measure. Momentum increased.
Chairman Thomas L. Ashley of the international finance sub-
committee has now made known that he will hold hearings this
session on the boycott problem.
Halpern has re-introduced his mandatory wording. It would
the
require that "such rules and regulations shall prohibit . .
taking of any actions, including the furnishing of information or
the
the signing of agreements, by domestic concerns engaged in data,
export of articles, materials, or supplies, including technical
or
the
United
States,
which
have
the
effect
of
furthering
from
supporting the restrictive trade practices or boycotts fostered or
imposed by any foreign country against another country friendly
to the United State ..."
(Continued an Page 9)
JERUSALEM — The critical situation along the Syrian border and the saber rat-
tling by Egypt's President Nasser were reviewed here by Israel's cabinet Tuesday night
in discussions led by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol and Foreign Minister Abba Eban. The
meeting had been summoned in a special, mid-week session due to the fact that last
Sunday's meeting had to be postponed because of the observance of Memorial Day and the
celebration of Israel's 19th anniversary.
Eshkol reported on Egypt's army moves and bellicose statements against Israel of
the last few days. It was learned reliably after the cabinet meeting that Israel attaches no
special significance to the Egyptian army moves. These movements are seen here as
designed to bolster Syrian morale and to emphasize Egypt's central role in the Arab
world. Past experience has convinced the Israelis that Nasser would not let Syria push
him into anti-Israeli action which he would consider untimely.
This evaluation by authoritative circles here was believed bolstered by the fact
that the cabinet meeting had not been attended by any of Israel's military leaders,
indicating that the situation is considered political rather than military.
Eban told the cabinet that only Syrian cessation of encouraging and engineering
sabotage inside Israel would reduce the tensions in the Middle East. He reported he had
sent instructions to Israel's diplomats abroad to make that point clear to the governments
to which they are accredited. The Soviet and British governments, he said, were given the
same point of view.
He reported that Britain was informed through diplomatic contacts in London while
the USSR received clarification of Israel's views on the current crisis at a conference
at the foreign ministry here between Aryeh Levavi, the director-general of the foreign
ministry, and Dimitri Chuvakhin, the Soviet ambassador to Israel. The London meeting,
Eban reported, was between Israel's Ambassador Aharon Remez and Minister of State
George Thompson.
In his evaluation of the situation, Eshkol reiterated the statement he made last
week to the effect that the time had come to halt Syrian aggressions against Israel inspired
and directed by Syria and to emphasize Israel's determination to strike back if the
terrorist aggressions should continue. The premier stated clearly that Israel reserves for
itself the right to choose its own time, place and method for replying to Syria's actions.
Eshkol declared in an interview on Kol Israel on the eve of Israel's 19th Inde-
pendence Day that "Israel will react to prevent continuation of waging 'popular war'
against Israel." Syrian authorities have used that phrase to describe their support of
Syrian-based guerrilla attacks within Israeli territory.
"There will be no such situation under which quiet and tranquility would prevail
only on one side of the border," the premier added. "There will be no immunity to the
state that encourages and initiates such war." He cited Syria as the source of all the border
troubles but warned that "it is our policy to decide on the timing, place and means to
react."
Eshkol also declared that the Israeli army would prevent any diversion of the
waters of the Jordan River, and that Israel would assure safe passage of shipping through
the Red Sea. FLOSY. the Aden "liberation organization," has warned it will bar the tip
of the Red Sea to Israeli shipping when the British withdraw from Aden later this year.
(Continued on Page 9)
•
Egypt Wants UN Out of Gaza; Thant Worried
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News)
UNITED NATIONS—Secretary-general U Thant confirmed here Wednesday that the United
Nations has received a request from the Egyptian government for immediate withdrawal of the United
Nations Emergency Force, which, since 1956, has stood on guard on the Egyptian side of the Gaza
Strip border with Israel and at Sharm el Sheikh in the Sinai Peninsula watching over Israel's freedom
of shipping to and from the Red Sea.
In two statements in which the Middle East situation was described as "very grave," Thant not
only confirmed the Egyptian request regarding UNEF's withdrawal, but also announced that he has
decided to cancel trips to London and Brussels which he was scheduled to undertake Thursday "in
view of the potentially very- grave situation in the Middle East."
Syria last weekend complained to Thant that — the latter's remarks condemning Damascus-backed
El Fatah terrorists, had encouraged Israel to threaten the use of force against Syria.
Ambassador George J. Tomeh, Syrian permanent representative at the United Nations, during a
50-minute meeting with Thant, cited the secretary-general's remarks at a luncheon of the United
Nations Correspondents Association, in which Thant described the El Fatah terrorists as "insidious,
contrary to armistice agreements."
The Syrian envoy complained to Thant that statements by Israeli leaders since May 1 "contain
a very clear threat of the use of force against Syria."
Commenting on the Syrian complaint, a United Nations spokesman said that the secretary-general's
remarks last week describing the El Fatah activities in Israel as "very deplorable," could not be
interpreted as condoning force by any party. He noted Thant's appeal to all parties to observe the
armistice agreements.