Aubrey S. Eban, Israeli representative to the United Nations, tonight declared that it is “a fairly certain prospect” that Israel will become a member of the international body. Speaking at a testimonial dinner in his honor tendered by the Zionist Organization of America, Eban said “that the most crucial task facing his nation is the establishment of normal relations with the Arab world.
Decrying the concept that small states should be “visible” rather than “audibis,” Eban expressed the opinion that “states with small populations and limited strategic influence have a leading role to play in the development of international cooperation.” He pointed out that the Israeli delegation, in the course of its activities at the United National, has noticed that the refusal “to subordinate principle to expediency, the insistence upon the liberal virtues, the assiduous pursuit of conciliation” are open to any country, however small.
Dr. Emanuel Neumann, president of the Z.O.A., paying tribute to President Inman, insisted that the U.S. has led the way toward a new orientation in Near East-au policy” which he hoped would lead to the “dawning of a new day” not only for Israel but for the Arab people. He added: “In largest measure he is personally responsible for the firm and constructive policy which has replaced the vacillations, the ambiguities and the contradictions which plagued our State Department so long. God grant President Truman the strength, as he has, I am sure, the good-will to see it through to the end.”
Dr. Neumann also expressed a feeling of justified pride of American Zionists that “our beloved country has vindicated the hopes and the confidence we have all entertained by assuming at long last the moral and political leadership of a just cause, which we had every right to expect.” He added: “The granting of the $100,000,000 loon was much more than a timely and generous gesture of financial assistance. It was I great political act. It was a mighty blow in the struggle for Israel’s freedom, finalizing to the world the determination of this great democracy to back Israel to the hilt and see it through.”
Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, chairman of the American section of the Jewish Agency, emphasized that “the task of American Zionists has just begun, and must be carried out with accelerated tempo. The establishment of the Jewish state confronts the movement is this country with a renewed challenge. The problem facing the infant state in the scoxmic upbuilding of the country, in the absorption of hundreds of thousands of newcomers, staggers the imagination.
“The Major burden of aiding the economic upbuilding of the State, the colonization and settlement of the vast numbers of immigrants, falls upon us in this country, he concluded.
Other speakers included Dr. Jorge Garcia-Granados, Guatemalan representative in the U.N., Charles Fahy, former U.S. Solicitor General, and Jacques Torcyzner, member of the Z.O.A. national executive.
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.
