Three raps of a gavel by World Zionist Executive Chairman Louis A. Pincus formally opened the 28th World Zionist Congress here last night. But outside the Jerusalem Concert Hall where delegates and guests from all parts of the world had assembled, police were rapping heads as they forcibly dispersed a crowd of more than 400 Black Panthers, New Left (SIACH) adherents and others who had gathered to demonstrate. Police employed water cannons, clubs and horseback charges in what some observers described as an excessive display of force against people who seemed to be doing nothing more than milling around.
Thirty-four persons, mostly Black Panthers, were arrested. Two delegates to the Congress, who were caught in the police dragnet but later released, charged police brutality. One of them, David Mandel of New York, a member of the Radical Zionist Alliance, was forcibly ousted from the Congress hall today when he tried to raise the issue of police brutality as a point of order. Pincus refused to entertain his point of order and Mandel was removed from the hall by security guards.
The Black Panthers remained in custody 24 hours after their arrest. Police Superintendent Avraham Turjeman who commanded the police operation, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that most of them would be brought before a magistrate tomorrow for a further remand in custody. Hours before the Congress opened yesterday, police made two apparent preventative arrests. They picked up Black Panther leaders Saadya Marciano and Charlie Biton whom they placed under arrest for “previous offenses.”
POLICE VIOLENCE CITED
Mandel told newsmen at a press conference today that the demonstration had been quiet and orderly and confined to the outside of the hall where the Zionist Congress is being held. He said police forced him into the paddy wagon despite his delegate’s credentials and forced him to be photographed at the Jail. Another delegate, Solli Marcus, chairman of the British Mapam, who was unintentionally caught in the fray, said he witnessed “dozens of acts of police violence bordering on brutality.” He said the police “hit out indiscriminately.”
Another American, David De Beer, former national secretary of Dror, a Socialist-Zionist youth movement, suffered a broken elbow in the melee. With the Panthers and New Leftists locked up the Congress still faced demonstrations and possible disruptive tactics from another source. Rabbi Meir Kahane, chairman of the Jewish Defense League, flew in from New York last night and declared that he would address the Congress whether or not invited. Pincus said Rabbi Kahane was not a delegate and would not be given the floor.
INFLUX OF RUSSIAN JEWS HAILED
The formal Congress opening went off almost without incident. Standing ovations greeted the appearances of former Premier David Ben-Gurion, President Zalman Shazar and Premier Golda Meir. Immigrants from many countries filled the hall bearing Israeli flags. They were followed by representatives of the 57 settlements established in Israel and the administered territories since the Six-Day War.
Shazar, who delivered the opening address of the Congress, called on the Jewish people in Israel and abroad to prepare to receive the “miraculous wave of immigration from Russia.” He then asked: “Have we prepared enough houses for them? Have we been able to ensure them adequate employment? Are we ready in spirit for their proper spiritual and social absorption?” Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek’s brief welcome to the delegates was interrupted by a flurry in the gallery where two men unfurled a large banner reading “Goldmann.” They were quickly hustled away by security men but other demonstrators showered the hall with leaflets expressing support for Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress, in his dispute with the Zionist Executive.
Finance Minister Pinhas Sapir said in his address at this morning’s session that Russia’s “threat” to swamp Israel with an unprecedented number of immigrants was a welcome challenge. “Never has such a mighty state threatened such a tiny nation with such a threat, a threat which is received with the hope that it will be realized.” Sapir said. “We shall receive this flood gladly with all our hearts and soul, whatever the difficulties, problems and anxieties which may accompany their immigration.”
1972 JEWISH AGENCY BUDGET AT $775M
Sapir appealed to world Jewry to mobilize larger sums for immigration and absorption. He estimated that Israel’s population would grow to five million by the end of the decade. Israel, he said, will not be able to face alone the repercussions which this will have on the economy without special aid from world Jewry. Sapir warned that simply to close Israel’s balance of payments gap during the 1970s would require the mobilization of $12 billion.
Jewish Agency Treasurer Leon Dulzin, speaking at this morning’s session, announced that the Agency’s budget for fiscal 1972 will be $775 million compared to $387 million in the current fiscal year. He said the Zionist Organization’s budget will remain almost the same as last year–$32 million in 1972 compared to $30 million in 1971. Dulzin noted that 166,176 immigrants have arrived in Israel since the 1967 Six-Day War.
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.
