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Ben-gurion Renews Attacks on Zionists; Will Not Attend Congress

July 23, 1964
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Former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion was in his best fighting mood last night at the conference of the World Union of Zionist Socialist parties, lashing out repeatedly against “hypocrisy” in Zionist debates and activities,

He urged the 200 delegates not to pass resolutions which would not be carried out. Repeatedly stressing the need among leaders for setting personal examples, he complained one only Labor Zionist leader had settled in Israel. He added that everything that had been achieved in Israel had been done by those who came to settle here.

“This country will exist with or without foreign aid for its survival depends only on those living here,” he asserted. He declined to use the term “socialism,” he said, because President Nasser of Egypt and Stalin also had spoken in the name of socialism.

He rejected charges that his Government had refused to help the Zionist movement, adding that “perhaps one madman did not help but the whole Government did.” He added he did not plan to attend the next World Zionist Congress. Then he called on the delegates to make maximum efforts to intensify Hebrew education and to encourage personal contacts of Jews with Israel. Premier Abba Eban and Itzhak Korn, general secretary of Mapai, also addressed the session.

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