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Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi Scores UN for Failure to Intervene in Biafra

January 19, 1970
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Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi. Itzhak Nissim, castigated the United Nations today for its failure to prevent atrocities and famine in Biafra or to halt the 30 month civil war which devastated that province. The statement issued by the Chief Rabbi was the first by an Israeli religious leader following Biafra’s surrender last week. He urged the human race to “save the Ibo people.” The Ibos are the largest tribe in Biafra. Meanwhile Israeli and African students protesting Britain’s role in Nigeria’s war with Biafra staged a stormy demonstration outside the Knesset building where the deputy leader of the British Labor Party. George Brown, was visiting.

The demonstration was organized by the National Union of Students in Israel. Some demonstrators gathered outside the home of Foreign Minister Abba Eban where Mr. Brown was to dine. One of them told JTA that they would ask the British official to receive a delegation. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said today that Israel is still waiting for word from Lagos regarding its offer to send relief to Biafra. The offer was made to the Nigerian Government and the Nigerian Red Cross last week after the Biafran surrender. About 350 qualified Israelis have volunteered for the relief mission.

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