U.S. Firm Disclaims Involvement in Mt. Olives Cemetery Demolitions

Intercontinental Hotels Corporation, a subsidiary of Pan American Airways, which is now building a hotel on the Jordanian side of Jerusalem, “shares the concern” of Jews about the Jordanian Government’s construction of a road through the ancient Jewish cemetery on Mount of Olives, it was revealed here today.

Assurance of the hotel firm’s interest in the case was given in correspondence disclosed today between Dr. L.B. Schechtman, national council president of the United Zionists-Revisionists of America and John B. Gates, chairman of Intercontinental’s board of directors. Dr. Schechtman had written to Intercontinental, complaining that the Jordanian Government’s building of a highway through the Mount of Olives cemetery, on the Jordanian side of Jerusalem, is “a blasphemous desecration of a religious sanctuary.”

In his reply, Mr. Gates wrote that his firm had already asked Jordan to halt work on that road which, he stated, “is not necessary to the hotel.” Jordan has claimed the road was needed for access to the new hostelry. “It is our hope,” Mr. Gates wrote, “that nothing further will be done which can offend the religious sentimental susceptibilities of persons of the Jewish faith. Be assured that Intercontinental shares your deep concern regarding any violation of sacred and religious monuments or places.”

According to Mr. Gates, Jordan has assured his firm that it had stopped all work on the road through the cemetery. However, Dr. Schechtman maintained today, his organization had information “that further demolitions in the cemetery are continuing” and that Jordan is continuing to blast tombstones in the ancient Jewish burial grounds where many Jewish religious leaders and renowned Jewish figures had been laid to rest. The Revisionists, Dr. Schechtman declared, will continue protests against these “blasphemous actions” by the Jordanian Government.