WORLD : Czechs, Israel Renew Old Ties

Israel and Czechoslovakia today renewed diplomatic relations, rectifying what Prague’s foreign minister called the “nonsense” of rupturing ties in 1967.

“Today, we have taken the first step (toward) very good and very friendly relations,” Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Arens said after signing the agreement with his Czechoslovak counterpart, Jiri Dienstbier.

Dienstbier and Arens voiced hope that the resumption of ties would lead to trade and increased cooperation between Israel and Czechoslovakia, which was one of Israel’s strongest supporters when it was founded in 1948.

Arens paid tribute to Prague’s supplies of weapons and training of air force pilots then, noting that “Czechoslovakia was one of the few nations that lent important assistance to Israel in its hour of need during the war of independence in 1948.”