Israeli primites
From the Hon. T. C. F. Prittie, MBE, MA.
Sir: On re-reading your very moving editorial of April 20 'Israel — to survive and prosper,' I note that you asked the western world to enable her to do just that. Nowhere in the editorial did you "encourage the Israelis to persist in the policy of territorial aggrandisement," as Mr Michael Adams suggested in his letter published by you on May 4.
Let me say a word about this alleged Israeli policy of 'territorial aggrandisement.' In 1948 Israel was attacked by the armies of five Arab states. As a result of the fighting, she emerged with more territory than had been allocated to her by the United Nations partition plan. Had she not been attacked, this would not have happened. Israel did not, at all events, seek territorial aggrandisement.
In 1956 Israel attacked in Sinai, as a result of flagrant and persistent attacks across her borders, mounted from Egyptian soil and encouraged by Egypt. Israel retained not one square foot of the territory which she conquered. Territorial aggrandisement was not in her mind.
In 1967 Israel fought a war on three fronts which was forced upon her by repeated acts of war. This time, admittedly, she annexed East Jerusalem, in order to reunify the city. She did not annexe any other Arab territory. In 1973, Isreal was attacked by Egypt and Syria. She conquered yet more territory, but she has not annexed it.
So much for her alleged policy of 'territorial aggrandisement.' Mr Adams suggests that the Spectator has no idea of what future benefits can derive from the existence of the State of Israel. Let me spell some out for him: Given a real, lasting peace, Israel can be of service to her neighbours over such problems as industrialisation, agriculture, representative government, trade union organisation, technology, education and communications. Not only "can" but "will need to be" of service; giving help to her neighbours must be Israel's natural way of repaying the Arabs for giving her a fair peace-settlement and the opportunity to live in peace and neighbourly relations with them.
I believe that your paper had thoughts of this kind in mind. They are worth much more than the old, stale and vituperative arguments of the totally partisan.
The Hon. Terence Prittie Britain and Israel, 15 Uxbridge Street, London, W8.
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