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Visitors to Youth Assembly Ousted; Some Cheered Plea for Soviet Jewish Emigration Rights

July 16, 1970
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The chairman of the United Nations World Youth Assembly. Fawaz Najia of the General Union of Palestine Students, called on UN security guards to clear the visitors’ gallery yesterday when a number of visitors cheered a plea for Soviet Jewish emigration rights by Dennis Praeger of the United States delegation. Several ambassadors of member nations, including Yosef Tekoah of Israel, protested the “drastic action” to UN authorities. They said Mr. Najia should have consulted first with Secretary General U Thant, as the visitors were the guests of member nations. The Assembly rules give the chairman authority to order security guards to expel visitors or speakers creating what he considers disturbances. Mr. Najia did not exercise that authority earlier in the session when cheers greeted another speaker’s remarks. His order to clear the gallery during the remarks by Mr. Praeger, a 21-year-old representative of Hillel, was met with cries of “Fascist!” from the visitors. Mr. Tekoah met Tuesday afternoon with Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, Under-Secretary General for Special Political Affairs, as part of a series of regular consultations. No details were disclosed. Meanwhile, the Israeli delegation submitted its resolution proposing a Palestinian state separate from Israel as “the only durable solution” if accepted by both sides. No action on the resolution is expected until at least Thursday, when the plenary meets.

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