ti5
Mm--
m
m
In this Interview wQh TULUA ZEVI, our Rome correspondent, the Nato commander in southern Europe. Admiral Horacio Rhreio, examines the striidnig power of the Soviet Reet in the Mediterranean, its effect on the Israeli-Arab situation and the regional responsibilities of Nato forces.
One thing which it is also Important to mention with respect to the Soviet Fleet is that it does not possess the air power which would allow it to survive in case ol a confrontation with the Naito jiavies, which possess this air power, and can maintain air superiority over the area.
From the viewpoint of the surface force, although it is a military threat which would need to be dealt with should they take offensive action, its impact in peacetime is in a much more important sense a political and psychological One.
I always quote as an example when I talk about this subject, the fact that when the Isriaeli destroyer, Elath, was attacked' by Egyptian missiles fired from a fost patrol boat in the harbour, there were Russian ships in that same harbour.
Their presence there really prevented the Israelis from taking counter-action against that particular unit if they had wanted to do so, because it would have created,' you mi^t say. possible 'direct confrontation with the Soviet forces. So that, even though the Soviet forces did not take part directly, their mere presence had a strong influence on the military situation.
It was a positive factor for their friends, of course. And they exerted a positive influence oik, you might say. a tactical situation without direct psrtieipatioiL •
Do you know whether the Russians are already operating from their own mr bases in Egypt ? I do not think so.
Would you say t?iat the sinking
What do you think is the real aim of the Soviet Union in the Mediterranean?
First, I would say that the Russians have come to realise the value of sea power and naval-forces in extending their influence in peacetime, in order to create political and psychological situations which would give aid and comfort to their friends and support them psychologically.
Secondly, they also wish to create some concern in the minds of other countries in the area, with respect to their own security.
Until a few years ago thie Soviet Navy was kept very close to home. But now thiey have embarked on '"a very ambitious programme of deploying their forces, even to remote regions^ of the globe, far away from their home shores. In pther words, the Soviet Navy has become very actively a deep-water navy.
Sixth Fleet dominance
Senator Legaret, of France, recently stated that the importance of the Soviet Fleet in the ile^terranean is "greatly exaggerated," thai it has no chance of challenging the American Sixth Fleet and that it is at present smaller than the French and Italian fleets combined. Is this correct?
I think this is essentially correct as far as the relative size of the Soviet squadron or fleet is concerned. Certainly the United States' Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean is much more powerful than the Soviet ^leet
Miss TuUiaZevi, JCNS correspondent in Italy, with Admiral Horacio Rivero
would l>e.
MOSCOW PRESSURING CAIRO
Of the Israeli submarine, Dakar, might he vaguely connedted with or related to the presence of Soviet subtnunnes in the area t
I would be very sceptical about it It is a very serious act ani,\ if discovered, would represent a very serious situation. There is never any certainty that you can attack and sink another ship without some trace. It is really a matter of chance, and they would be taking a very serious risk.
Atomic submarines
Have Russian atomic submarines equipped with tntsstiM already been detected in the Medt-terranean?
I cannot say categorically that there are Soviet atomic submarines in the Mediterranean. But there is no reason why they should not be here.
7 tcould like to talk about the possible threat—I mean direct threat—against any country which is neither a Nato member nor Communist. Israel, for instance. What would happen (f Israel were directly attacked by Soviet forces ?
I cannot talk; about an area outside my responsibility, i am a Nato commander with a responsibility for the defence of the three countries that comprise the southern region (Italy, Greece and THrkey).' Qf course, what happens in the iniive -ar-ea^is - «>f ^-interest You cannot ignore _it ^Biit my responsibility relates to executing the political decisions of the members of Nato. So I think it would be most inappropriate for me to speculate on what these decisions
If Moscow supports the Arabs in a new conflict with Israel, what mec^res could you tofce ? |: ^
I could hot do anything inithat case, for Nato is not concerned with: that problem.
Bta the Sixth Fleet, how could it intervene?
In my function as Nato cpnunan-der of the southern region, I should not speak for the United States as well. But I believe that, in case of war, the Sixth Fleet is able to neutralise any threat by the Soviet Union.
Did you draw any impressions or conclusions from the military operations in the Six-Day War?
No. except that I might say that most military men were.very miicb impressed with the great success that the Israelis, had. But beyond that I would not like to say any« thing else; I think this is a general impression.
Do you believe tJiat Arab countries loith Soviet bases are. ■ for this reason, potential enemies of _ Nato countries?
I would not characterise any country as a potential enemy. I think you have to talk about the circumstances in which those bases might be used, and the situation existing at the timers.
If you were engaged in Actual hostilities with the Soviet block, and-we hope this r?>!i co^^ippcri, aiid the Soviet. Union • were \using bases in certain places ih^he Mediterranean, then I think::Nato would have to look at this seriously and decide what action would need to be taken.
by.theCJN diplomatic editor Israel's Foreign Minister Abba Eban will resume on Monday liis "indiiwt" negotiatioris with Arab governments through United Nations Mediator Gunnar Jarring. According to diplomatic sources in Jerusalem, these talks will take place in Nicosia, Cyprus.
The Israeli Government decided to continue "discussions of substance" on Middle East peace despite the terrorist outrage which occurred last Friday in Jerusalem When twelve persons lost their iivesand many were woundkl from a bomb planted in a shopping center.
Informed circle claim the negotiations essentially Will be directed at arriving at a modus vivendi with Egypt where President Abdul Gamel Nasser is reported to have assured the Russians he is for peace.
Other independent sources report from Cairo Nasser is embattled with his own hawks in a fight over a peace deal with Israel.
The fact that Israel last week bluntly told the big powers it would not sign the Atomic Non-Proliferation Treaty before peace with guarantees is established in the Middle East has caused a noticeable intensification of diplomatic activities in
Moscow and Washington to induce Nasser to con-cluda peace.
: l*ublic opinion in world ciq[>itals took special notice of the relatively mild statement about Israel made in Budapest by Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko.
NEW SECURITY MEASURES
Jerusalem (JCNS).-The Government of Israel on Sunday decided on a series of measure to tighten the security of Jerusalem following last Friday's bomb oiitrage.
The Cabinet discussed suggestions and accepted recommendations of Ministers Moshe Dayan and Eiiyahu Sassoon to lift curfew imposed on the Old City. Originally the curfew had been imposed in order to protect the Arab population from retaliation by Jewish youths
No'incidents were reported.
Meanwhile the Israeli police succeeded in arresting about 30 Arabs said to be implicated in the Mahaneh Yehiidah market exptosion.
General tone of the Israeli press reflects the calm of the population. The people of Isri^l feel that they should not be provoked into changing a successful policy of good relations between Jews and Arabs because of a terrorist act.
Ben Aharon felts Toronfonians
israel At peak of power
This issue
of
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
CONSISTS OF 2 SECTIONS
Section Two is devoted to travel to Israel, the Land of 4 Seas
ESHKOL CANCELS AMERICAN
Tel Aviv, (JCNS) - Mr; Levi Eshkol, the Prime Minister, left Jerusalem for ten days' convalescence fpliow-ing his recent chest infection. His departure coiocidedwith an announcement that his in^ tended visit to Washington next inonth had been called off;
The official e^gplanation is
that both President Johnson and the President-elect, Mr. Richard Nixon, have a heavy list of engagements* It is also true that Mr. Eshkol's recent illness and the consequent accumulation of work make, it difficult for him to go away:just now.
But political observers here are tempted to see the
by M. J> Nurenberger
Each tone the so-called underground Anborganiza-tions stage a terrorist coup on Israeli territory, their spokesmen avail themselves of the facilities of government radio stations of nei^bbring capitals. Also the sahie radio stations continuously broadcast appeals to "heroic" resistance of Palestinian Arabs a-gainst the Jewish presence iii the Holy Land. This is done openly hi complete defiance bfc^^ agreements duly signed and in the tradition of Arab-Fascist. contempt for public opinion. For these dictators know that-^whenever it reaches the point when the pot boils over and Israel retaliates in self-defeitse-the hypocritical peace lovers the world over wQl urge the Jewis to be magnanimous in victory.
vv, *♦*♦*♦••**♦♦♦•••*•**.■•■■■•■
There is hb doubt that last Friday's outrage in the Holy City of Jerusalem, where political gangsters aicceeded in destroying innocent lives; will bring a-bout some kind of retaliation. It may be military or of a different^natiire.
The basic error of the Arab-Fascists involved in this kind of terrorist-activity lies in the fact that they are operating on territory where the majority of the people neyer^ cani become influenced politically by such attacks. (Usually political terrorists are involved . til activities where most of the populace are helpless against an oppressive miriority-rul|^. .
In United Jerusalem, of a population of 270,000, two-huiidred (housand are Jews;60,000, Arabs(Christ-ian and: Moslem^' I Q,000 belong to other groups. Thus if the majority of the people is impressed by ;these acts, it certainly is in favor not of the terrorists^ or those behind them but in the direction of strf^nger meumres 'againsit' those perpetrating such criniM and their supporters ■ ':'."[
Never bihisWy have smaU minorities been successful, by-terrp^iicts against majority rule/ \ .
There is another, more important feature of thesi
hitand run tactics of Arab terrorists.
Such leirrbr where killers are sent into a foreign country to attack civilian population is not a one-way street. The Arab rulers who encourage this kind of
HIT AND RUN
politically stupid aggression forget that Jews are not emuhting. terrorism because Of weakness but because of moral and ethical consideratioins. For the Israeli Government also could claim int^ponsibility were a group of Jews to organize an iinder^ound terror movement in order to avenge themselves and bomb the crowded market squares of Cairo or Diamascus; It's the easiest form of warfare and the Arabs should remember that such activities could induce the other side to follow" suit. ,
I do not believe the IsraeU Government, because of its known adherence to international law and ethical behavior. even against an enemy, ever would condone such hit and run practise by some hotheads. However it would be advisable for some neighboring regimes to take notice! of such a possibility in order to prevent further bloodshed. After all, an underground cannot be contrbled always.
World opinion also should take cognizance of this fact. Israel is not Vietnam where, according to some, the population. may syiripathize .with terrorists opposing the government.; '
. The Government of Israel is^a democratic one, elected by all its people including the Arabs. There are^rab meinbers; of parliament in the Knesset. Only last week a new Arabic daily appearing in East Jerusalem was free to criticize the Israeli Goyemment to the. point that a member of parliament wpnderied how far the Goverhmerit would continue in this tolerance of incitement.
I know the Israeli .Government will riot interfere r ^i(ith free press for Israel is not Egypt, Iraq or Syria; it^b a free nation. Yet the provocation last Friday
majKbrihg the situation in the Middle East to a point wher^, inesponsibie elements would dare infiltrate Arab/lands and throw bombs upon peaceful citizens in A^b capitals. '
Is this what Nasser wants? We believe the time has come yo place this question candidly and waru the Arab dictators that their gangsters will not get away
-with the murder of women.
pos^nement of the Washington visit against the background of ffiesh strains in the relations between Jerusalem and Washington, as a result of the State Department's stiffening and impatient attitude.
The border (piestion is said to be the subject of increased American pressure, with the State Department continuously prei^ing for clarificaition of Israel's min-imujm demands.
Even Israel's determina-T tion to hold Sharm el Sheikh, the Sinai strong pdnt dominating the Striaits of Tiran, is rebuffed by the State Department, which considers that the posting of kn international force at this or an adjacent point would be a sufficient guarantee of havir gational freedom.
Israel now awaits the installation of the Nixon Ad-ministrationj the attitude of which will be decisive for Mure developments in the region. : r'
Meantiqie, Jerusalem still hopes to cpmplete the agreement for the purchase of Phantom jets with the. Johnson Administration while continuing not to commit herself to signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
ISRAELI STUDENT ACCUSED OFMURDER
London, (JCNS) - An Israeli student, Rafael Welz-man, aged 24, of no fixed ad--dress, was charged at North London Magistrates Court with the murder of Jacob Samuel Menahem, who was found dead in his home at 27 Colberg Place, Stoke New-ington, London.
Weizman was-remanded in custody for one week.
Mr. .Menahem was aLon-don, laboratory chemist who rented out furnished rooms to ybung students. He was found lyingln-a pool of blood and had neck wounds.
' 'Israel today stands at the peak of its political ability and diplomatic power," declared Itzhaq Ben Aharon at Toronto's 25th annual His-tadrut conference last Sunday. "And it is the Histad-rut, with the manifold services it provides in the fields of education, social welfare and health, that bred the strong and confident generation which so gloriously defended Israel in the Six Day War."
Three hundred delegates representing the Labour Zionist Movement, Farband Laibour Zionist Order, Ach-dut Ha'avodah-Poale Zion, United Organizations for Histadrut, Trade Unions and Pioneer Women's Organization, attended the conference held at the Labour Zionist center.
Three separate workshop sessions heard ireports and made recommendations later presented to the plenary session under the chairmanship of Harry Steiner.
LABOUR ZIONIST SESSION
M. Plzel, chairman, stressed the need for increased participation by all segments of the Labour Zionist Movement in fund-raising activities on behalf of the Histadrut in Israel
Adolph Goldberg appealed to the delegates to activate a larger number of canvassers to reach the increased quota, in accordance with a resolution passed at Winnipeg's 6th national convention ^of Histadrut which raised this year's objective by fifty percent. .: v
On behalf of Achdut Avo-dah - Poale Zion, Melech Kaner pledged hicreased support by his organization to the Histadrut Campaign.
Participating in the discussion were Messrs. M. Pollock, I. Appel, S. Stein-hart, A. Cohen, H. Cooper. .
Guest speaker at the session was Avraham Shafir of Israel, representative of the Jewish Agency in Toronto. .
TRADE UNION SESSION
Representatives from the joint boards aiid locals of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, the Cloakmakers' Union, ILGWU Furriet-s' Union, Bakei-y and Confectionery Workers' Union, Dreissmakers' Union, ILGWU, and MUllnery and Capmakers' Unions participated in a session under the chairmanship of Sam Fox, manager of the ACWA.
Reports included that of Al Hershkovitz on the success-
ful testimonial dinner held last February in honor of Fred Dowling and the forthcoming banquet to honor George Burt, Iwth well known trade union leaders.
Following a discussion in which Nat Schachar, Sam Kraisman, Max Federman, Al Hershkovitz and others expressed opinions, a rec-^ommendation was made to undertake an mtensive educational pr(^am to bring about greater involvemieht of the general labour movement with the aims and ideals of Histadrut, in view Of the decreasing proportion of Jewish members in the needle trades Unions.
"The most important goal of the folk organizations at this time must be to aid the border settlements in Israel which are attacked almost daily by the Arab terrorist bands/' declared Jacob Eg-it, executive director ipf the UOFH, in his annual report to delegates. Egit also expressed recognition to societies for the 50 Amal scholarships already provided; he stressed the need to broaden the scholarship program in view of the overwhelming importance of technical preparedness in the present situation.
Under the cochairmanship of J. Ciechanowski and H; Ferens, 100 delegates from more than 45 organizations affUiated with Histadrut met to reaffirm their support of the State of Israiel and Histadrut.
Taking part in the discussion, which stressed the need for greater effort to maintain and construct vital projects hi Israel by contributions from, organizations and individuals, were Rachel Besserman, GershbnGross-inger, Sam Landau, Sam Lip-shitz, Ch. Bernikler, I.Kop-yto and others.
A report read by David Green who has returned recently firom a visit to Ash-(Jot Yaakov, a border kib- /-.. butz in Israel, left a strong,, emotional impact as he des-cril)ed actual conditions of life under shellflre from Arab terrorists. There he had the honor of dedicating an / ambulance presented through the UOFH-with funds raised by a committee In Toronto.
On behalf of the Women's Council of the UOFH, Mrs, Anne Glass expressed the
Special mention was maide at the session of the cultural center to be erected at Kil> butz Ashdot Yaakov in the name of the College Memorial Chapel and its president, Sam Cohen.
Resolutions were passed strongly protesting the forthcoming e]q)irationof the Statute of Limitations in Germany and calling for the passage of Bill S5 by the Canadian Parliament outlawing the distribution of hate literature.
The following officers were elected: Rabbi David Monson, honorary president; J. Ciechanowskii president; S. Bierstone, inamediatepast president; H. Ferens, chairman of the executive. Vice presidents: B. Goldglas; D. Green; H. Lederman; R. Madesker; H. Mandelbaum; H. Sherr; Mrs. Anne Glass, president of the. Women's CouncH; Mrs. Rose Bierstone, treasurer; J. Slonim, secretary. An executivie committee of fifty, representing many organizations and landsmanshaften, also was elected.
The concluding plenary session of the conference heard reports by: George Steinhbuse, executive director of the Histadrut Campaign; J. Egit, associate di-^ rector; J. ■ Morgenstern; David Zlot; N. Lovinsfcy; J. J. Zweig.
George Steinhouse traced the evolution of Histadrut through various stages, enumerating the many new projects and undertakings of recent years, the latest one being the Histadrut Development Foundation which proved successful in the United States where over eleven million dollars already has
been transmitted to Histadrut through bequests in wills and assignment of life insurance.
Resolutions were passed by the conference dealing with the foUowing issues: solidarity with the State of Israel; protesting the plight of Jewry in Soviet Russia and Poland; concern with expiration of the Sfetut^ of Limitations which demands would put an end to the trial and punishment of Nazi war criminals; for legislation a^ gainst hate literature hi Canada; raising the quota of the Histadrut Campaign in Ontario; intensification of the campaign for Amal scholarships for trade schools in Israel; encouraging the creation of aCanadian Histadrut development foundation to bring about greater involvement of the general trade union movement in support of Histadrut Ideals and program. ,
The following officers of the Histadrut Campaign unanimously were elected for the year 1968-69: Victor Glblon, campaign chairman; B.A. Hlmel, vice chairman; Harry Barkin, treasurer; Adolph Goldberg, chairman, canvassers' council; Rabbi David Monson, projects chairman; J. Morgenstern, chairman, Histadrut Development FouiMiatlon; D. Zlot, chairman, Amal Scholarship Fund; Al Cohen, chairman, Farband Labor Zionist Order Division; M. Kaner, chairman, Achdut Avodah Division; J. Ciechanowski, president. United Organizations for Histadrut.
An executive of ninety members consisting of representatives from various organizations and trade unions also was elected.
determination; en's group to c pand their worl Histadrut.
the wqm-tbexr (on behsilf of
NEV/ ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO CANAOA.>-Aharon Remaz, right, now JsruMlem't AmtMuadorto'London, with Israel's Deputy Promler Ygal Allon at th9 entranca of EnglaitdU main, synagogue. According to raports from Londori^Mr. R«m6z win b«coma Israal'snnvoy to Ottawa. Tha post Is vacant sinca the premature passlnii of Arteh Eshel.
si
m
' .1.
013811