Dr. Nahum Goldmann issued a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today covering his conversations with Senator J. William Fulbright, his contacts with East European governments which severed diplomatic relations with Israel last June and his decision, announced yesterday, not to seek election to another term as president of the World Zionist Organization Dr. Goldmann told the JTA that he was making the statement in order to clarify several facts “with regard to the discussions in Israel concerning myself.”
The World Zionist leader said: “My talk with Senator Fulbright in New York was in lieu of a previous appointment which had to be postponed. It was purely personal and off the record and the Senator has since apologized to me in writing for having referred to it. I wanted to discuss with Senator Fulbright his position on Zionism — at the suggestion of a number of friends. But the conversation concentrated primarily on the situation in the Middle East about which I gave him my views. No specific problem was discussed nor did I ask for any action with a view to influencing the Israeli Government. I informed my colleagues on the Jewish Agency Executive in New York about the appointment beforehand and reported to them fully afterwards.”
Turning to Eastern Europe, Dr. Goldmann said: “My contacts with representatives of Eastern European governments, which I regard as useful, particularly after the break in diplomatic relations between them and Israel, are maintained with the full knowledge of the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and other members of the Israeli Government. I obviously keep them fully informed about these contacts of mine. This also relates to a conversation I had two weeks ago with the Soviet Ambassador to Washington.”
Dr. Goldman said that his decision not to seek re-election to the WZO presidency “has nothing to do with attacks on myself recently in the Israeli press.” He added, however, that “I have not resigned and will not do so, certainly not a very few weeks before the (World Zionist) Congress assembles. But I am not a candidate for re-election. I will be delighted if a younger leader assumes this difficult and responsible office.”
Dr. Goldmann said that even before the last Zionist Congress, “I intended not to continue as president of the WZO.” But “the untimely death of my friend, Moshe Sharett, who, I had hoped, would be my successor, and his demand in the last days of his life that I continue as president. prevented me from taking that step at the time. For a number of reasons, which I will explain to the Zionist Congress which elected me, I now revert to the original decision,”
Dr. Goldmann said he announced his decision when “Itzhak Koren, chairman of the nominations committee which prepares for the elections of the Executive and other officers at the next Congress, informed me yesterday (April 8) that the committee would be meeting soon and would discuss, as the first item on its agenda, the presidency of the WZO. I asked him to inform his committee that I am not a candidate.” Dr. Goldmann said that he would always “be ready to help my colleagues on the incoming Zionist Executive whenever they will ask for my assistance.”
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.
