Tens of thousands of grief-stricken Israelis filed past the open coffin of President Weizmann all during the night and today to pay their last respects to their beloved leader. The line will continue throughout today, tonight and tomorrow morning at 10 A. M. when the public viewing of the President will be halted in advance of the national funeral, which will begin at 2:30 P. M.
Men and women from all walks of life and from all sections of the country arrived by special train and other conveyance and passed through the two rows of fully armed soldiers who lined the road to the Weizmann residence for a distance of more than half a mile. Four army officers constituted the guard of honor at the tier where the shuffling visitors slowed down momentarily to take their last look at the President. The coffin, on a platform bedecked by black bands and national flags, was itself partially covered by a prayer shawl and a flag.
The President’s son Benjamin and his wife arrived by plane from London today and were met at the airfield by representatives of the Premier and the Foreign Office and by the late President’s military aide. The funeral was delayed for a day to permit the President’s son to attend.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Yigal Yadin today issued an order of the day to the Army, mourning the loss of the President. “He symbolized the driving force of vision, the wisdom of science, the joy of upbuilding and the creative power of a generation of pioneers who brought their dreams to fulfillment, “the order of the day said of Dr. Weizmann. “He was the symbol of our revival and renaissance.” Three minutes of silence were observed in all army camps yesterday.
ARABS HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICES; WISH TO ATTEND FUNERAL
Memorial services were held in Christian Arab churches in Jaffa yesterday and the chief Armenian priest eulogized the President. He also sent messages of condolence to Mrs. Weizmann on behalf of his church and his religious community in Israel. When the news of Dr. Weizmann’s death reached the Arab villages in Northern Israel, many Arabs hung black draped pictures of the President on the outside of their buildings. In Acre, as well as in other Arab communities, local leaders recalled past contact with the President and sought to send delegations to the funeral.
It was learned today that one of the last conversations between the President and his physicians before he died concerned the American elections. Informed Saturday night of the election of Dwight D. Eisenhower as President of the United States, Dr. Weizmann commented in English: “He’s a fine fellow.”
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.
