Speech #850266780

I believe this is the substantive question which is the most important for all of us. He contends that the unrest in the Arab world is caused primarily by what he calls the forcible occupation of Arab land by the government of Israel. that the expansion of Israels population threatens an added seizure of Arab territory. and that the overpopulation of Israel is largely financed by taxfree contributions from American citizens. Therefore. his argument is that Jewish immigration into Israel must be restricted in order to win Arab favor. and to that end he declared on July 14 that we must not permit Americans to contribute funds tax free as philanthropy to Israel. to be used for the purpose of helping Israel resettle immigrants. I submit. Mr. President. that this argument rests on the basic fallacy. The evidence is that Israel is not overcrowded. Israel does not want to expand its territory. nor will it be forced to do so by its immigration policy. And it is rather naive to be deluded by the Arab propaganda machine into believing that the Arabs will abandon their antiWestern campaign if only we will cripple American Jewish philanthropy. Any such idea fails to take account of the real nature of the struggle which divides the Middle East today.