Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-18
ISRAELI VIEW
BY JAMES M. LONG

ERUSALEM-There is a dam
gerous paradox today in the Middle
East.
In the studied opinion of most
foreign observers and diplomats
here on the powder keg. neither
Israel nor the Arab states want war.
Yet after six years of repeatedly
violated truce, no formula has been
found to bring the two sides to-
gether. with or without outside me-
diation. to seek way to peace.
1t is no longer a Hatfield and Nc
Coy feud over desert frontiers. Since
Soviet Russia took cards in the
game with the Czech arms deal to
Egypt in October, the stakes have
become higher.
A border battle today could pos
sibly touch off World War III.
1.-The situation is growing steadily
more difficult" says Canadian Mai.
Gen. E. L. M. Burns, United Nations
truce supervisor. There is no In
dication of any real progress to-
ward a solution"
What Is being done about It?
Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden
Of Britain and United States Secre-
tary of State John Foster Dulles
have proposed negotiations on from
tier concessions.
Egyptian Premier Col. Canal Alb
del Nasser has refused to deal with
Israel and repeatedly demands
frontiers based more or less on the
1947 Palestine partition line. Is
rael's silver-haired prime minister
David Ben-Gurion has offered to
sit down in direct talks with any
Of the Arab rulers" But he re-
jected any suggestion that Israel
make territorial concessions"
Concessions was perhaps an ILL
chosen word.
The prestige of Col Nasser's gov
eminent in his own country and
in the Arab world might not sur
vive concessions to Israel. Ben
Gurion's coalition government
might not survive concessions to the
Arab states.
Adjustments Not Concessions
But Ben-Gurion himself left the
door open a crack. He told the
Knessett (parliament) in mid-No-
vember that Israel is willing to
consider mutually beneficial adj
justments" of the frontier.
That phrase might serve better
than the word concessions.
Another major problem involves
the 100000 to 100000 Arab refu-
gees left homeless after the fight
for Palestine. Officially, Israel says
she cannot take any of them in.
Some unofficial sources have hint
ed, however, that she might agree
to absorb some token figure-like
100000 to 50,000-if this proved
q key snag to a solution of her diff
culties with her neighbors.
Israel already has some 100000
Arabs within her borders. They are
those who did not fee their homes
In areas taken over by Israelis.
plus some members Of their fam
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back from Arab states.
How would the forces shape up
II diplomacy should fail and war
should come?
Newborn Israel'S victories over
the Arab armies in the war of l948
may have left some false impress
sions. Israel is far stronger than
she was in 1948. But so are the
Arab states particularly Egypt.
with her tanks, jet planes, heavy
guns and submarines from the
Communists.
Appealing to the West for arms
aid, in his final speech as Prime
Minister Immediately after the
Czech-Egyptian deal. Moshe Sha-
rett said:
1.-THE truth is-the military man
power Of the Arab states is more
than twice greater than our own :.
THE military budget Of Egypt
alone is almost equal to the entire
budget of Israel
"Egypt's army alone is superior
to the Israel defense force in all
categories of heavy weapons for use
on land. sea and in the air"
The same was true in 1913. .
There is confidence in Israel-but
today 1t is not the over-confldence
Of six years ago.
II the issues here could be solved,
overall settlement might come into
sight.
The Israeli foreign ministry is in
clined to believe that Jordan would
be willing to work out better rela-
tions. There is no real trouble on
the Lebanon front. Despite much
saber- rattling from Syria and Iraq.
these are not the points Of greatest
concern. Iraq has no frontier with
Israel. Syria has been hostile to
Israel from the start, but never
committed her armed forces to
more than minor border trays.
Coins From peoce
Who has what to gain from
peace?
In Israel's view, both sides are
losing potentially rich market in
mutual trade.
Both sides are being forced to
waste manpower. Both are divert
ing to the military millions Of dol
lars that could be used in develop
ment of their countries.
Perhaps Israel feels the expense
most sharply But that does not
mean that the Middle East cold
war will freeze her out of existence,
even If it drags on for years to come.
In seven years, Israel has doubled
her population, produced her way
out of rationing, and taken long
strides toward industrialization.
Israel has 5000 square miles
about the size of New Jersey. The
state is $50 miles long and only 10
miles wide at its widest part.
Into that area, half of it desert
and mountains, she has absorbed an
thrush of immigration that has
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