Speech #890124322

Finally. when it looked as though there would be total collapse of the Arab forces. the United Nations persuaded the Jews to accept a truce. The Arabs agreed that this truce would be the forerunner of a permanent peace to be negotiated at the earliest possible moment. But as soon as the Arabs obtained this truce and recovered their breath. they repudiated their pledge. demanded that Israel be destroyed. and refused even to help their own refugees. To this day. they refuse to negotiate such a peace. They permitted the lot of the refugees to deteriorate. The United Nations and the United States. on several occasions. offered to advance funds to set up a Jordan River Water Authority. which would employ most of the Arabs. The United Nations and the United States offered .to finance developments in Iraq and other areas. which would employ all the rest of the Arabs and build up the economies of the Arabian peninsula (which once had supported millions in older and now extinct civilizations). The Arabs persistently refused all such offers. The Arabs have even refused to permit food and supplies freely to reach these refugees. They have placed devious obstacles in the way. Israel has always favored economic assistance for underdeveloped Arab countries. but the Arab leaders themselves have shifted the emphasis to the acquisition of arms. frustrating aid for their oppressed people. Meantime. Israel offered even to take back 100.000 of these refugees which. of course. is equivalent to 5 percent of their own total population. and equivalent to the United States offering to take In 10 million fanatical Russian Communists. Israels role as a Western bastion in an area which is being increasingly penetrated by the Communist must receive fuller recognition as a matter of enlightened selfinterest. Israels program of aid and education to small and new nations of Asia and Africa. such as Burma.