By JOSHUA JUSTMAN
JTA Chief Correspondent
in Israel
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—Presi-
dent Zalman Shazar told the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency this
week that to him the central
task of the Presidency was that
of rallying the forces in Israel
for internal unity and consoli-
dation, a need he called a "his-
torical imperative."
He took the opportunity, in
the exclusive interview, to ex-
press through the JTA his
thanks to his many friends
abroad for their congratulations
and good wishes.
He said the task of creating
internal unity in Israel was the
task pursued by his predeces-
sor, the late Itzhak Ben-Zvi, and
he expressed the hope that he
would be successful in follow-
ing in his footsteps.
Israel's third President dis-
closed that he had been ini-
tially hesitant about accept-
ing the nomination. He said
that as a member of the
World Zionist Organization
executive, "I devoted the past
decade to cultural and educa-
tional work, a task which is
close to my heart and which
I consider of paramount im-
portance. I was reluctant to
leave it.
He added that getting assur-
ance that this work would not
be affected was one of his main
concerns in the days preceding
his decision on acceptance. With
characteristic frankness, the
President added that there were
"other reasons" for his hesitancy.
He said that, knowing the
reality of Israel's internal poli-
tical life, the divergent nature
of the Israeli community and
the special nature of Israel's
relationship with world Jewry,
he had wondered whether he
could live up to the task. De-
claring that he was "under no
illusions about the difficulties
of the task," he added that "to
the extent we will be able to
overcome the gap between com-
munities and hasten cultural in-
tegration in Israel and narrow
that between the secular and-
religious elements, and bring
about a meeting of hearts —
the state's character will be de-
termined and strengthened."
He told the JTA he felt
that not enough was being
done to strengthen the ties
and deepening the recogni-
tion of mutuality between
Israel and Jews in other
countries. He said that while
the problem was recognized
"theoretically," in practice
there was a "still wide-open
field," a field "crying out for
action."
The many years he had de-
voted to the Zionist movement
before and after joining the
WZO executive, and especially
the experience gaind ein fur-
thering the work of Jewish edu-
cation and culture would, he
said, be of invaluable help to
him as President.
He stressed that peace — both
within and without — remained
the goal Israel must pursue
with maximum effort and de-
termination. He emphasized
that the friendships which
Israel had developed with many
nations "are a great achieve-
ment and asset and we must
continue to foster such friend-
ship as before in a spirit of
sincerity and with the aim of
mutual assistance."
* * *
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — In
one of his first acts as Presi-
dent, Zalman Shazar reduced
this week the life sentences of
two Israelis convicted in the
murder of Dr. Rudolph Kastner,
and commuted the sentence of
the young kidnapper of Yoselle
Schumacher.
Zev Eckstein and Josef
Menkes, convicted in 1957
and given life sentences in
the murder of Dr. Kastner,
had their terms reduced to
10 years each. Dan Shemer,
serving a lesser sentence for
implication in the same crime,
was to be released on the
Shavuot. Eckstein and Menkes
will be eligible for release
Nov. 6 if the customary sen-
tence reductions for good be-
havior are applied. Kastner
was the center of a political
controversy arising from his
activities as a leader of the
Hungarian Jewish community
under the Nazi annihilation
program.
Shalom Shtarkes, uncle of
Yoselle Schumaker, was sen-
last January to three year's im-
prisonment on conviction of
kidnapping his nephew in one of
Israel's most celebrated religious
conflict cases. He was also sen-
tenced to two year's imprison-
ment for perjury. The uncle also
was released on Shavuot Eve.
Yoselle, whose disappearance
for -two years stirred a search
on three continents, was finally
found by United States Secret
Service operatives in the home
of a Brooklyn rabbi last sum-
mer. Shtarkes, who went to
England after the boy's disap-
pearance, was extradited to
Israel for trial.
Pittsburgh Federation
Raises $1,579,307
PITTSBURGH, ( J T A ) — Th e
United Jewish Feder a tion
brought its 1963 campaign to a
successful conclusion at Green
Oaks Country Club where it was
announced that a total of $1,-
579,307 had been raised in the
drive. Alvin Rogal, campaign
chairman, said that the result
was 100.33 per cent of the
amount raised last year. This is
$5,000 more than the 1962 total.
Does USSR Seek Chaos in Middle East?
By SAUL CARSON
to this tangle, aside from the more than 60 per cent of the
JTA Correspondent at the UN vicious aims of the Soviet Union entire March 31 deficit.
(Copyright, 1963,
and its Arab allies. Some West-
Israel is only "incidental" to
Jewish Telegraphic ,Agency, Inc.)
ern countries also refuse to pay
UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. — for the Congo force. In addition, Moscow's plans in regard to the
The Soviet Union has declared many small nations want the United Nations. The Kremlin
has proved long ago that it
all-out war against the United
bigger powers to pay even more doesn't care a fig whether Israel
Nations. It is out to break the than they are paying now.
continues to exist. It would just
UN financially. Involved, among
The fact is, however, that if as soon have UNEF and UNSTO
other phases of the UN work,
the Soviet Union and its Arab dissolved — and let chaos reign
are the Emergency Force and
allies would pay up — the UN in the Middle East. But its ulti-
the UN Truce Supervision Or-
ganization. UNEF is the body could get out of the red. Al- mate aim is not only Middle
together, the Soviet Union itself East anarchy — it is world
of troops standing on guard at
owes a total of $60,482,617 — anarchy. Israel only happens to
the Gaza Strip border with Is-
be in the middle here, since it
rael and Sharm el-Sheikh,
is Western-oriented, while its
on the Gulf of Akaba, UNTSO is Lady Bird's Role
Arab enemies are presumably-
the UN machinery which super- in Israel Celebration
"neutral" — meaning they lean
vises the armistice pacts be-
toward the Soviet Union when,
tween Israel on the one hand Incites Arab Wrath
Lady Bird Johnson caused a indeed, they are not actually
and, on the other, the four Arab
stir in Arab circles after she in the Soviet camp.
neighbors—Egypt, Jordan, Syria
agreed to serve as honorary
and Lebanon.
chairman of a program com-
Until now, the USSR has re- memorating the founding of Is-
fused to pay for UNEF and for rael. The Iraqi embassy released
the UN force in the Congo. Now a letter calling on Mrs. Johnson
the new USSR representative to withdraw because such "a
here, Nikolai T. Fedorenko, has celebration means celebrating ag-
Certified Master Watchmaker
and Jeweler
put UNTSO on the same foot- gression and atrocities against
' Mg.
our people."
18963 Livernois Ave.
Mrs. Johnson said no to an in-
Between Jan. 1 of this year
and the end of March, the UN vitation from all 12 Arab em-
-UN 1-8184
deficit had grown from $74,100,- bassies to help celebrate their
OPEN THURS. TO 9 P.M.
000 to $93,900,000. Efforts have national holidays.
been made to float a $200,000,-
000 bond issue to pay the defi-
Strictly
cits. Much' of that issue has
Poultry
been sold, and all of it will
Kosher
undoubtedly be subscribed. Now
Meats and
the Soviet Union says that it
will refuse even to contribute
IT'S BAR-B-Q TIME AGAIN!
funds to pay interest on that
bond issue.
UNEF costs about $20,000,-
• Hamburger Patties
• Tender Cartwheels
000 a year. The USSR alone
— besides its satellites — owes
• Beef Ribs
• Lamb Ribs -
more than $14,000,00 . 0 on the
.
GEORGE
OHRENSTEIN
KAPLAN BROS.
Try Our Own Ready Made .. .
UNEF account. Egypt owes
over $284,000 on the UNEF
account, Jordan owes $34,000,
Syria $32,000, and so on down
the line of the Soviet and
Arab countries, with Saudi
Arabia on the list of UNEF
arrearages for a total of $550,-
000. Israel is fully paid up!
• Rib Steaks
• Fillets
And Now — Something New
DELICIOUS
TENDERLOIN CHIP STEAK!
18229 WYOMING
WE DELIVER — UN 1-4770
Member Detroit Kosher
Meat Dealers Association
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3 - THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Friday, May 31, 1963
Shazar Calls for Unity of Israel's
Forces; President Reduces Terms
of Kastner Killers Frees Shtarkes