“Israel is willing and ready to give formal, guarantees for the safety of, free access to, and normal functioning of all the Holy Places situated in the Jewish sector of Jerusalem and throughout Israel,” President Chaim Weizmann today declared. He spoke here at the University of Fribourg at a special ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of his being granted a doctorate in natural sciences by the institution.
The Israel President also said that his government would “welcome direct international supervision over the Holy Places and institutions so that these guarantees would be a living reality.” He added that Israel had made definite proposals on the future of the Holy Places “lased on a synthesis of the interests of Christianity and the state of Israel.” He stated that he believed that international supervision of the Holy Places “combined with the guarantees of the state of Israel will serve well the interests and concerns of Christianity as well as the interests and concerns of the state of Israel. We believe these interests are reconcilable.”
Pointing out that Israel recognizes its responsibilities to the international community for the security and free access of the Holy Places in its jurisdiction, the President stated that since the return of peace to Israel the government authorities “have spared no effort to repair damages and to enable the holy institutions to continue their noble work.” He also stated that “close and happy relations” exist between Israel and the ecclesiastic representatives.
Present at the ceremony, at which the officials of the university hailed Dr. Weizmann as the most prominent student of the school, were representatives of the Swiss Government, municipal authorities, scholars and leaders of the Jewish community of Switzerland. Also present were Israel representatives in the country. After the ceremony at the University, Dr. Weizmann and his party were honored at a reception.
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.
