Speech #910157854

Israel is spending as much as 25 percent of its gross national product on vital defense needs. It remains fully mobilized. and its economic problems are. therefore. enormous. A good deal of its payment deficit will be made up from purchase of Israel bonds. contributions to the resettlement of Jewish immigrants. as well as certain ongoing international payments. But even considering Israels drive. a tremendous deficit will still remain. For this Israel is seeking assistance from the United States. as well as food under the Public Law 480 legislation. Israel. at this time. even while it is fighting off the commandos. dealing with the dangers of the occupied areas. and marking time until there is someone to negotiate peace with in the Arab world. can be encouraged to take action to attack more substantially the problem of economic development in the occupied areas heavily populated by Palestinian refugees. For it is clear that no matter what political disposition may ultimately be made of these areas. the Arab refugees could live and prosper there. UNRWA. the United Nations agency offering relief to the Arab refugeesto which the United States heavily contributeshas only a limited mandate to support the refugees and therefore has been unable to make any largescale progress toward a permanent solution of the problem in the last 20 years. While the present situation. in which about half the Arab refugees are under Israels jurisdiction. is unique. Israel could offer them compensation as an element of a world resettlement plan for the refugees. This was the formula pursued after World War II in clearing the displaced persons camps of Europe. The United States. in fact. took 15 percent of the 2 million refugees who were in the DP camps. There seems no reason why initiative should not be begun for an international resettlement scheme for Palestinian Arab refugees who decide they wish to resettle outside the presently occupied areas. Accordingly. it seems to me the first priority now is to bring about sympathetic and favorable consideration of Israels requests for economic aid and purchases of military equipment. which the President has stated he will pass on within 30 days. I feel that in this I am joined by millions of Americans and a very large number of Members of both Houses of Congress. and I am encouraged also by the Presidents statement of January 26 and by his historic talks with Prime Minister Meir when she was in the United States.