THE DETROIT JEWISH NEW S — Friday, September 2, 1960 — 32
Zionists Ask U.S. Strive for Direct Arab-Israel
Peace Neaotiations• Bressler Named ZOA President
NEW YORK. — The four-day
proceedings of the 63rd annual
convention of the Zionist Or-
ganization of America closed
Sunday with the adoption of a
series of major resolutions and
the election of Max Bressler, of
Chicago, veteran Zionist, Jew-
ish communal and civic leader,
as president of the organization
for the ensu-,
ing year. He •
succeeds Abra-
ham A. Redel-
heim. who corn- •-
pleted the con-
stitutional two-
year term as
president.
Leon Kay,
Detroit Zionist
leader, was
Bressler
elected one of
the national ZOA vice presi-
dents.
Upon accepting the ZOA pres-
idency, Bressler urged the
strengthening of the world Zi-
onist movement in order to ce-
ment Jewry's spiritual' and cul-
tural relationships. •
A series of resolutions deal-
ing with United States policy
vis-a-vis the Middle East, call-
ing among other things for the
United States Government to
"undertake a new initiative to
bring Israel and the Arab states
into direct negotiations at the
peace table," was adopted at
the convention.
The resolutions were adopt-
ed after an announcement
made to the delegates by Vice
President Richard M. Nixon
that, if he is elected Presi-
dent of the United States, he
would assign "the primary re-
sponsibility f o r directing
negotiations" with regard to
the Arab-Israeli dispute to
Henry Cabot Lodge, former
head of the U.S. delegation to
the United Nations and now
Republican candidate for Vice
President. Nixon made this
announcement in a tape re-
corded message to the con-
vention.
Secretary of Labor James P.
Mitchell, addressing the con-
vention, took issue with Senator
John F. Kennedy, Democratic
Presidential candidate, who last
Thursday e v e n i n g, proposed
that "all the authority and pres-
tige of the White House be used
to call into conference the lead-
ers of Israel and the Arab states
to consider privately their com-
mon problems." Senator Ken-
nedy voiced belief that such an
approach from the White House
"would be lightly rejected by
either side."
He went on to describe the
U.S. policy in the Middle East.
"Our policy in the Middle East
— non - partisan, non - interven-
tionist," he said, • "is one of
objective pursuit of peace,
through support of United Na-
tions activities to reduce ten-
sion. Secretary of State Herter,
early this year, reiterated our
support of Secretary General
Hammarskjold's attempts to ef-
fect a fair resolution of the
Suez Canal transit problem. We,
of course, support the principle
of freedom of passage as en-
dorsed by the United Nations."
"The things that Senator Ken-
nedy suggested here on this
platform—intervention and con-
ciliation under White House
auspices — are descriptions of
what may be possible when all
else has succeeded. He has de-
scribed a possible pleasant end;
ing of the hard road before us,
but not the road itself. I sup-
pose it is a human frailty - to
look forward with an anxious
hope to an easy ending. but it
is seldom consistent with the
facts of our history," Mitchell
said.
Vice President Nixon, in
his recorded message, said
that the Middle East would
continue to be a source of
tension as long as the "Arab
boycott and blockade con--
tinues," as long as "Amer-
icans are barred from certain
countries because of their re-
ligious faith, and as long as
Arab refugees are confined
to camps and their unhappi-
ness continues."
He then outlined the follow-
ing policies that he believes the
U.S. should follow to meet these
problems:
"Strong unceasing efforts to
establish freedom of passage
through the Suez Canal, and to
put an end to discriminatory
practices throughout the area.
Encouraging and supporting
measures making it possible
for the Arab states to develop
their material resources to raise
their living standards and
thereby increase opportunities
for growth, to full advantage.
"Continued and increased sup-
port of the courageous and suc-
cessful efforts of the people of
Israel to make the desert bloom
and to turn their country into
a new Land of Promise. Israel
has dramatically demonstrated
to the world the effectiveness
of free institutions and the dem-
ocratic way by these efforts
and also by the technical aid it
has extended to the newly in-
dependent and underdeveloped
nations in Africa and Asia.
"Above all, continued and
tireless search for practical
means to achieve a solid and
lasting peace in the Middle
East. Now this means the avoid-
ance of good promises, the fu-
tility of which have been proved
many times over, and concen-
tration rather on persistent
negotiations through every di-
plomatic channel available to
us.
"I believe the time has come
when we should try to bring
about an overall. settlement of
the Palestine question in all its
aspects. I refer to the status of
the Arab refugees, the develop-
ment of the waters of the Jor-
dan and other relationships be-
tween Israel and its neighbors.
Finding a settlement of these
problems with justice and fair-
ness to all is important not only
to Israel and its neighbors but
to the peace and security of the
United States and of the whole
world.
"There will, of course, have
to be considerations by each
side of the problems of the
other side, and the United
States should be willing to con-
tribute generously toward bring-
ing about such a settlement. It
will not be easy and I promise
no miracles, but it is imperative
to the nation's interest that a
solution be found, that we must
devote our best efforts to that
end," Mr, Nixon stated.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver,
speaking at the ZOA dinner
given in his honor, empha-
sized that "Zionism which
built the State of Israel must
presently buttress it." At the
same time he urged that Zi-
onism must continue to in-
vigorate the life of our peo-
ple everywhere, not for the
sake of Zion only but for the
sake of universal Israel."
Declaring that "Zionism was
always far more than scaffold-
ing for the erection of the State
of Israel," Dr. Silver said that
"It was and is the expression of
the unbroken wills of our peo-
ple to live creatively and in
i freedom, which time and again
I rebuilt the fallen tabernacle of
David."
In an indirect answer to some
Israeli leaders who have been
critical of the American Zion-
ist movement, Dr. Silver de-
I claret': "Zionism was the ar-
chitectural design, the material tection of Americans from the
out of which the State of Israel Arab boycott, with power to
was built and the will that built take any and all appropriate
it. Zionism will remain its sure legal measures to combat the
and main support in the days to said boycott and blacklisting."
come. It would be folly to break
The ZOA convention adopt-
the cask and still hope that the ed a budget totaling $1,500,-
wine will be retained."
000 to finance its programs
Dr. Silver received the ZOA on the American scene and
Herzl Gold Medallion, awarded
its major projects in Israel.
each year by the ZOA for out- The convention urged the
standing services to the Zionist United States and the United
cause. Nations to "c o n t i n u e and
In its resolution urging the heighten initiative in effectuat-
U.S. Government to take the ing practical resettlement pro-
initiative to bring about direct grams" for the Arab refugees,
Arab-Israel peace negotiations, asserting that such programs
the ZOA convention pointed' "must depend largely on the
out that "the objectives and economic development of the
policies • of the United States Middle East as a whole."
Dr. Emanuel Neumann told
qualify our Government to as-
sume leadership in achieving an delegates that "Zionism is not
a philanthropy — and vastly
Arab-Israel peace."
Another resolution dealt with more than an aid-to-Israel move-
the Arab boycott against Israel ment. It has another aspect and
and directed the incoming ad- dimension of deepest signifi-
ministration of the ZOA to cance to Jewish life in America
"give high priority to the crea- and the world over. As con-
tion of a committee for the pro- ceived by Herzl, Zionism signi-
fies a return to Judaism and a
Jewish spiritual renascence."
In his annual report covering
all aspects of the organizational
activities, Dr. Sidney Marks, ex-
ecutive director and national
secretary of the ZOA, announced
a membership of close to 103,-
000 including some 9,400 mem-
bers. He announced that in the
past year $356,285 was raised
for the American Zionist Fund
to finance the ZOA's major pro-
jects — the ZOA House in Tel
Aviv and the agricultural vo-
cational training institute Kfar
Silver, near Ashkelon.
A discussion was held at the
convention on the Arab boycott.
In an introductory statement,
Israel Consul Shimshon Arad
remarked that "for Arab coun-
tries the boycott has always
been just another weapon in
their war against Israel."
Albert Schiff, president of
the Jewish National Fund of
America, was accorded a cita-
tion at the convention.
`Enough Rhetoric, No Leadership' on Suez
Issue, Kennedy Charges; Asks Restatement
of Tripartite Declaration and Peace Talks
NEW YORK, (JTA) — Dem- nation." He urged that this
ocratic Presidential candidate country invite like-minded na-
John F. - Kennedy proposed a tions to join in signing, regis-
"crystal clear" reaffirmation of tering, and depositing such a
the Tripartite Declaration of clear pledge with the UN.
He held that at present the
1950 by the United States,
Britain and France against Mid- old Tripartite Declaration "is
dle Eastern aggression and too uncertain of execution and
promised to use "all the au- effect to be a useful shield for
thority and prestige of the peace." He pointed out that "a
White House" to call a con- delay of only a few days in in-
ference of Arab and Israeli ternational reaction to aggres-
leaders to seek peace. He spoke sion might well be fatal to a
at the opening session of the nation's freedom and indeed the
63rd annual convention of the peace of the entire world."
Zionist Organization of Amer-
Senator Kennedy proposed
ica at the Sheraton-Hilton Hotel that "all the authority and
here. Aug. 25.
prestige of the White House
• "There has been enough
be used to call into confer•
rhetoric in recent years about
ence the leaders of Israel and
free transit through the Suez
the Arab states to consider
Canal—but there has been no privately their common prob-
leadership," Sen. Kennedy lems, assuring them that we
declared. He charged that
support in full their aspira-
"our policy in Washington
tions for peace."
and in the United Nations has
He' also urged that the U. S.
permitted defiance of our should make clear to the con-
pledge with impunity — in
ference "that we are prepared
deed, with economic reward." to back up this moral support
Senator Kennedy said if with economic and technical
America's word in the world assistance." He voiced belief
community was to have any that such an approach from
meaning, the U..S'. must use its the White House "would not
influence to remove "all dis- be lightly rejected by either
crimination at the Suez Canal side."
for all times." He asserted that
"It is a long painful step
"the White House must take the from the era of the boycott to
lead." He attacked "the series the era of partnership—and
of incredible American blun- that step needs the direct en-
ders which led to the Suez Cri- couragement and help of the
sis of 1956, events in which White House," Senator Kennedy
the role of our government has said. He stressed that "the next
never been fully explained." President of the United States
"At times it must have ap- should always be personally
peared that champions of de- available to stimulate every ex-
mocracy• and freedom were periment in cooperation, from
being punished for their virtues, the joint development of a
by being taken for granted by river, to a reconsideration of
a neglectful Administration the Arab refugee problem, to-
that suddenly showed concern the crowning mercy of the final
only when it was displeased by reconciliation that can be
their conduct," he stated. He brought about only by a true
expressed the view that "peace peace settlement."
in the Middle East is not one
Kennedy made an interest-
step nearer reality today than ing observation on youth by
it was eight years ago, but Rus- stating that Zionism "was the
sian influence is immeasurably classic case of an ancient
greater."
dream finding a young leader
Senator Kennedy said a
—for Herz' was only 3'7 years
new American President must
of age." He added: "Perhaps
introduce
leadership
"to
I may be allowed that ob-
compose this ugly situation
servation because the Jewish
before it breaks out in a new
people—ever since David slew
Goliath—have never consid-
threat to peace."
Proposing a re-statement of ered youth as a barrier to
the Tripartite Declaration, he leadership, or measured ma-
said it must be made definite turity and experience by
"that we will act promptly and length of days."
Citing the benefits of Israeli
decisively against any nation in
the Middle East which attacks technical aid to Burma and
its neighbor . . . with whatever Ethiopia, Sen. Kennedy ex-
force and speed are necessary pressed belief that the Arab
to halt any aggression by any states could similarly benefit
from peaceful cooperation with
Israel. He thought the Arabs
should attack their social prob-
lems rather than continuing
hostility against Israel, and
that this would form a better
basis for Arab unity.
The Presidential candidate
spoke of his two visits to
Israel. Affirming conviction
that Israel' is "here to stay,"
he said friendship for Israel
"is not a partisan matter. It
is a national commitment.
There is a special obligation
on the Democratic Party."
He charged that there has
been much "empty and nega-
tive" rhetoric from the Admin-
istration about opposing an
arms race and a solution by
force in the Middle East. He
stressed that if a solution
based on force is rejected, the
United States and United Na-
tions must accept the task of
finding a solution based on
reason and justice.
Citing setbacks in the Middle
East owing to Administration
"blunders," Senator Kennedy
said American intervention to-
day to prevent further deteri-
oration and Russian penetra-
tion "will not now be easy."
The Administration record "is
not one to which we can point
with pride," he asserted.
"The United Nations may
have conferred on Israel the
'credentials of nationhood;
but its own idealism and
courage, its own sacrifice and
generosity, had earned the
credentials of immortality,"
he declared.
Abraham A. Redelheim, presi-
dent of the Zionist Organiza-
tion of America, in - his presi-
dential address, reaffirmed the
demand for the establishment
of a central American Jewish
body 'to speak with one united
voice on issues affecting the
welfare and interest of the Jew-
ish community of this country
and throughout the world."
Dwelling on the functions and
future of the Zionist move-
met, Redelhim stated that "this
is not only a question of the sur-
vival of the Zionist movement,
but of the Jewish State itself."
Dr. Binyamin Eliav,, Israel
Consul General and Minister
Plenipotentiary, greeting the
delegates at the convention on
behalf of the Israel govern-
ment, expressed certainty that
the convention "will strength-
en the organic tie between the
Jewish people in the land of
Israel."