Speech #900239317

I had the opportunity to inspect the Norwegian contribution to this area. a vocational training school paid for entirely by Norway. where the cream of the young Arabs in the Gaza Strip are trained in machine tool and automotive work. building construction trades. and other vocational trades. This vocational training school for the Arabs has a great deal of significance. During the time the Arabs were in control in Gaza they made no effort to educate or relocate the Arab refugees. The result was that in Gaza. and many other refugee areas surrounding Israel. large concentrations of Arab refugees were left in their impoverished condition. and these concentrations became breeding grounds for discontent and revolt. Israel recognized the potential danger posed by these refugee groups. and has worked hard to improve their condition. U.S. assistance has also been directed toward alleviating these conditions. although our assistance has been criticized as being directed only at maintaining the refugees. instead of trying to educate and train them. It is quite obvious. however. that in spite of attempts by both Israel and the United States the refugee problem which has been perpetuated by the Arabs for 20 years is still critical. I saw a family of eight Arabs living in a little 10by12 foot room. and it turned out that this was the rule rather than the exception. It was also quite obvious to me that the Arabs in these refugee camps were encouraged by the Arab nations to remain and to become an occupying force in the event the Arabs resume hostilities with Israel. I returned that evening to Tel Aviv where I had dinner with Col. Raphael Efrat. the information officer for the Israeli defense forces.