Churches' Yearbook Claims Jewish
Growth in This Country 3% Over '64
The Yearbook of American Churches for 1965 lists church and
synagogue membership in the United States at 123,307,000.
The Jewish figure is given as 5,600,000, corresponding adequate-
ly with the U. S. JewiSh population of 5,612,000 that was given last
week in the World Jewish Congress survey. The Jewish listing,
therefore, is not of synagogue membership but of total population.
The Jewish increase over the 1964 figure is 3 per cent.
In the instance of the Catholics, it is again the population figure
that is listed.
The Jewish group apparently has shown the largest growth,
according to the Yearbook of American Churches.
Included in the given total are 110,000 Buddhists, a total which
jumped by 50,000 when Hawaii became a state.
New Immigration
Law . . . Historic
Truman Veto .. .
Senator Hart's
Liberal
Leadership
JEWISH NE
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TR 01-1-
A Weekly Review
Commentary
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Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper
Vol. XLVI I I, No. 21
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21 Major National Jewish Agencies
Appeal to Johnson to Protect Israel
NEW YORK — The Johnson administration was urged by the heads
of 21 national Jewish agencies to help Israel protect itself against "an
unmistakable buildup for war" by Arab governments.
The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations statement
called on Johnson to make clear that the United States would "not accept
the growing preponderance of arms in favor of the Arab governments."
The statement was issued by Dr. Joachim Prinz of Newark, president
of the American Jewish Congress and chairman of the Presidents' Confer-
ence which is considered the most representative and comprehensive group-
ing of Jewish agencies in the country. Its statements are regarded as
speaking for the overwhelming majority of American Jews.
Dr. Prinz cited recent large-scale Arab arms orders and acquisitions —
including modern Soviet jet fighters — and quoted a declaration by
Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser on Nov. 18 that "it must be our
unswerving purpose to destroy Israel."
The conference statement urged the Johnson Administration "in the
interest of peace no less than in the interest of justice . . . to make certain
hat Israel is capable of maintaining its deterrent strength.
"The Arab intention to destroy Israel is clear, and the Arab govern-
ents are now rapidly acquiring the means to fulfill this purpose," Dr.
Prinz declared. He continued:
"In addition to the large military expenditures already budgeted in
each separate Arab state, sums amounting to over $350,000,000 have for
the first time been allocated to the United Arab Command for the purchase
of.material and equipment."
Dr. Prinz said the threat of war in the Middle East could be averted
NIIP Wrinkles Ironed Out,
Eshkol Presents New Cabinet
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News)
JERUSALEM — Premier Levi Eshkol presented to parliament
Wednesday his new coalition cabinet of 18 ministers, representing 75
seats in the 120-member Knesset.
The new coalition represents the Mapai-Ahdut Avoda alignment,
the National Religious Party, the leftist Mapam, the Independent
Liberals and the pro-Mapai Arab parties. Mapam was in opposition
to the prior Mapai-dominated coalition which resigned after the Nov.
2 general elections in which the premier's alignment scored an
'impressive victory.
The new coalition government will be the first in Israel's parlia-
mentary history without Mrs. Golda Meir as foreign minister. She
left the government after serving without interruption since 1949
and will be replaced by Abba Eban of Mapai, who served previously
as Israel's first deputy premier. Mrs. Meir will remain a member of
the Knesset and chairman of the executive of the alignment.
Dr. Dov Joseph is being replaced as justice minister, and Akiva
Govrin as tourism minister. Dr. Joseph is being succeeded as justice
minister by Yaacov Shapiro, Israel's first attorney general.
Eshkol continues as both prime minister and defense minister.
Zalman Arrane of Mapai was renamed education minister.
Behor Shitrit of Mapai continued as police minister.
Haim Zadok of Mapai was retained as trade and industry
minister.
Haim Givati of Mapai continued as agriculture minister.
Eliahu Sasson of Mapai was renamed posts minister.
Israel Galilee of Ahdut Avoda was named minister without
portfolio, a new appointment.
(Continued on Page 12)
"only if the Arab governments are persuaded that Israel remains capable of
fighting off any act of aggression." He said that "no one can take satisfac-
tion in recommending a policy that requires an increase in weaponry
anywhere in the world." He added:
"We deplore the bitter fact that so much of the meager resources of
the countries in the Middle East must be expended in futile and spiraling
pursuit of arms. This is a shameful diversion of energy urgently needed
by each of the neighboring states for constructive purposes. But history
limits our alternatives.
"The dependence upon strength will continue until there is a concerted
demand by the nations of the world for the negotiation of a permanent
peace between the parties in the Middle East.
"Until that time, any compromise of the deterrent power of Israeli
military forces must be considered an invitation to Arab military adven-
tures and and an intolerable threat to the security nd peace of the
region."
The Jewish organizations represented in the Conference of Presidents are: Ameri-
can Israel Public Affairs Committee, American Jewish Congress, American Zionist
Council, American Trade Union Council for Histadrut, Bnai Brith, Central Conference
of American Rabbis, Hadassah, Jewish Agency for Israel — American Section, Jewish
Labor Committee, Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., Labor Zionist Movement,
Mizrachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi, National Community Relations Advisory Council, National
Conference of Jewish Women, National Council of Young Israel, Rabbinical Assembly,
Rabbinical Council of America, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America,
Union of American Hebrew Congregations, United Synagogue of America and Zionist
Organization of America.
Israel Denies Report on Missile Purchase
From France; Washington Watches State's
Nuclear Potential. Bowing to Arabs Challenged
JERUSALEM (JTA) — A spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry denied that Israel was
buying missiles from France, as reported in a New York Times report from Washington Jan. 7.
The spokesman said that it is true only that Israel research institutes are obtaining help from
private French firms in the field of scientific missile research. The Washington report was dismissed
officially as "without foundation." The Israeli press charged the report was "obviously inspired" to
divert attention from increased United States arms shipments to Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
(A French government spokesman in Paris als o denied the accuracy of the Times report, saying
that private French companies had been authorized to provide technical assistance to Israel. The
spokesman denied specifically that
Israel had already bought medium-range missiles from France.)
The report in the Times had tied France's alleged help to Israel in the missiles field to Israel's
research in the field of atomics, being carried on at Israel's reactor near Beersheba, built with French
help. Israel has repeatedly asserted that the work at the reactor was of a peaceful research nature.
The report claimed that Israel had already placed with France an order for 30 missiles capable
of reaching a target 500 miles from Israel, thus making it possible for Israel to hit Egyptian territory.
The report also said that "the current Israeli estimate is that the Egyptians have 80 to 90 missiles"
of three different types with a range of 200 miles to 600 miles.
State Department Reported Eyeing Weapon Potential in Israel
WASHINGTON (JTA) — The greatest immediate threat of nuclear proliferation in the Near
East is arising in Israel, and future aid and loans, including the pending nuclear desalination project,
may be linked with agreement by Israel to desist from development of atomic weaponry, high-level
U.S. sources revealed. The subject of Israel's nuclear weapon poential will be closely observed during
(Continued on Page 13)