The general mobilization and the war. short as it was. strained the resources of Israel greatly. For nearly a month. the entire economy of the country was virtually shut down. Now much of the energies and the resources of the country are involved in taking care of the million Arab refugees which passed under Israel control as a result of the war. If a long term solution is to be obtained in the Middle East. it is essential that Israel begin the task of resettling the refugees and of developing the occupied territories so as to provide productive employment for the masses of Arabs who have been held for so long in a permanent State of poverty and despair by the Arab countries more concerned with fostering the political discontent of the refugees than with securing their wellbeing. But if Israel is to embark on such a massive resettlement program it will take all of its resources. and more to do so. Israel cannot be expected to undertake this gigantic task of refugee resettlement at the same time that it must find the resources to equip its military forces at a level which will discourage further Arab aggression and additional attempts by the Soviet Union at penetration of the Middle East. It is essential that the United States provide such military equipment as Israel requires to do this job and that the administration subordinate its desire to improve U.S. balance of payments through military credit sales to Israeland to some of the Arab countriesat least until such time as the present crisis is overcome and more normal conditions return to that troubled area. The Jackson amendment should be defeated.
Keywords matched
refugee refugees