The World Confederation of General Zionists concluded its session here today, adopting a platform which emphasizes that every Jew must have the right to come to Israel to settle and to work there. A resolution regretting the absence from the conference of the General Zionist group, which is led by Israeli Minister of Interior Dr. Itzhak Gruenbaum, was also adopted.
The platform adopted by the Confederation also emphasizes that the General Zionists will fight against the present system of allocating Israeli immigration certificates along party lines. It urges that aid to new immigrants be given by the state of Israel as a whole and not on the basis of political groupings. The delegates elected a world executive of 43 members and a council of 78.
Touching on the economic development of the Jewish state, the platform reads: “The General Zionist party recognizes the rights and role of the cooperative sector in the up building of the country in the past and the appropriate duties facing it in the future for strengthening and enlarging the state of Israel. The General Zionists will fight against giving any preferential treatment to the collective sector in the community over the private sector wherever there is no need for a collective sector.”
ASKS FOR RESTRICTION OF ECONOMIC TRUSTS; DEFENDS SMALL ENTERPRISES
The adopted program, which will govern the activities of the General Zionists within the ranks of the World Zionist, Organization, also urges that the state of Israel follow a policy of legislation with the view of assisting financially all branches of the country’s economy “assuring on the one hand economic efficiency and, on the other, assistance to the man in the street and small enterprise.” The state of Israel should restrict the powers of any economic trusts with monopolistic aims intended to destroy the man in the street and small enterprise, the platform says.
Concerning social legislation, the platform asserts that Israel should adopt laws which will benefit the population as a whole, with sick funds and old-age pensions coming under state ownership. Israel should ensure free elementary education for all children. State education should be general and in accordance with the traditions of the Jewish people. “No schools should be under the control of any political party or organization,” the program adds.
Outlining a “regime for the state of Israel,” the platform recommends that the Jewish state shall be based on the “democratic principles of equality and freedom for all citizens, without any hegemony–political or otherwise.” All citizens shall have equal rights, irrespective of faith, sox, language or position, it stressed, adding that Israel should guarantee to all its citizens the freedom of conscience, speech, public assembly and press, as well as of organizations, whether it be social, professional or religious.
Dr. Israel Goldstein, chairman of the United Palestine Appeal, expressed fear that the cleavage within the General Zionist camp in Israel–which he termed unjustified — may lead to a separation within the party’s ranks abroad and demanded unity among General Zionists.
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