Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, chairman of the American section of the Jewish Agency, today issued an appeal to Jews in the United States not to contribute to any collection of funds in behalf of the Irgun or any other organization claiming to defend Israel.
“There is today but one Defense Army of Israel and it is maintained by the Provisional Government of Israel,” Dr. Silver declared. He revealed the existence upon the establishment of the Jewish state. He also made public the text of a cable received from Moshe Shertok, Foreign Secretary of Israel, which reads:
“In view of the dissolution of Irgun Zvai Leumi and its impending complete incorporation in the Defense Army of Israel, all separate drives and allocations are unwarranted and should be discontinued forthwith. All parts of the Defense Army are Army claiming separate financial assistance for its maintenance or operations expenses.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
