Allon Says Donation to Oau Made on Humanitarian Grounds After Appeal by UN

Deputy Premier Yigal Allon said in the Knesset today that Israel’s donation of $2800 in food and medical supplies to the Organization for African Unity was made on purely humanitarian grounds after an appeal was relayed through the United Nations for aid to victims of natural disasters. Allon was speaking in reply to an agenda motion to debate the grant which aroused an angry reaction from the South African government and upset South Africa’s ardently pro-Israel Jewish community. Several days ago Dade’s Consul General in Johannesburg, Yitzhak Unna, asked the South African government to understand that the donation “must be viewed in the context of Israel’s position in the world” and “was made in response to a request to all member states by the Secretary General (U Thant) of the United Nations.” His appeal was angrily rejected by Premier B.J. Vorster who accused Israel of contributing money to a terrorist organization. The OAU is an umbrella body supporting various groups of African “freedom fighters” opposed to colonialism and apartheid. Elizer Shoshtak, of the Free Center faction who introduced the agenda motion claimed that the OAU was anti-Israel and said the government decision to donate money to it was “irresponsible.” He also said it was wrong to have antagonized the South African government which has always been friendly to Israel. The motion was referred to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Special to JTA