The Phoenix Jewish news., 1956-11-23
Victorious Military Effort
Saddles Israel With Munv
New Problems To ConQuer
BY JONATHAN SHILOH
Copyright, 1856 JTA)

| ne QIdIndI1C LuIn vi events III
the Middle East has thrown into
IsraePs lap a new bundle of prob
lens. Their exact number cannot
yet be determined, for dozens of
new ones may be created by sud-
den developments in Jordan and
Syria. But all in all, a victorious
ISrael-even if she suffers some
future reverses-can at present try
to weave her way out of the laby-
rinth caused by her successes in
the field.
One of the major problems is
posed by several small, but high
ly strategic islands lying at the
mouth of the Bay of Eilat Egypt
in the past used them to prevent
Israel ships from approaching Eli
| lat.
WHAT WILL happen to these
islands? Their future will deter
" q 81 cat CALCllI J11G 0SNCl-
opment of the Negev. In friendly
hands, they will permit Eilat to
grow into thriving commercial
port. Israel will have outlets on
both the Mediterranean and Red
Seas, tremendous advantage in
world trade.
With free pas age assured
through the Suez Canal, Israel will
quickly become a world center of
air and water communications, for
she has the advantage of being To-
Gated at the juncture of the three
great continents.
THE GAIA STRIP, particularly
its more than 100000 refugees, pre-
sentS unique problem, but not
a pressing one. For the interna-
tional aid which kept them alive
for years will continue to reach
them. Many will undoubtedly wish
to go to Egypt.
For the rest, their hatred of Is
rael and all things Israel, a prod
uct of eight years Of force-feeding
of hatred, must be uprooted. They
must be taken out of camps, set
tied, and turned into productive
elements.
This will take tremendous sums
of money. Where will it come
from? Israel is hard put to settle
hr own immigrants.
BUT IN THE past, many inter-
national agencies and bodies have
expressed their willingness to raise
funds to start the GAIA refugees a
new life. Only the desire of the
Arab countries to keep the refugee
problem alive for political pur-
poses thwarted these efforts. Un-
doubtedly these agencies will come
forward again.
The rehabilitation of these refu.
gees will bring a great blessing to
their brethren in camps in Jor-
dan, Syria, and Lebanon. For they
will not sit idle when they know
others are being taken out OF
camps and given a new chance.
This will force the three Arab
countries to follow suit, ending
once and for all the refugee prob
lem.
BUT HOW ABOUT these three
Arab countries? Are they. going to
stand idly by as Egypt goes down
to defeat? The question is moot
one. AS this is written the answer
appears to be: Yes. However, the
situation may change radically at
any moment.
At any rate, Israel has legitimate
demands on two of these coun-
tries, Jordan and Syrian lebanon
will present no problem once the
other Arab states are brought into
line). An end to infiltration will be
IsraeTs first demand. Against Syria
she has one further demand. An
end to that country'S obstructioniSt
tactics in delaying construction OF
the Jordan river diversion scheme
which will bring huge volumes of
waer to the south of Israel and
life to the Semi-arid region.
AGAINST Jordan, Israel has
several demands. Israel must be
permitted free passage to Mt. SEQ
pus and its prisoners, Hadassah
Hospital and the Hebrew Univer-
sity. The Latrun road must be
opened. The borders of many no
mans lands must be rectified in a
sensible manner.
And finally, there is the matter
of ending the Arab boycott which
must be an integral part of the
peace treaties which must be
signed. This will bring about long
era of peace and stability to the
Middle East.