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Ashkenazi Backed by Students, Profs

February 15, 1974
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For four-hours, students and professors of the Hebrew University met yesterday at a campus hall to discuss the demonstration against Defense Minister Moshe Dayan by Capt. Mordechai Ashkenazi. The rally was opened by Ashkenazi himself, a student at the university, who called his friends to join him Sunday when he begins his 48-hour hunger strike in his demand for the resignation of Dayan.

One of the speakers, Dr. Ehud Sprintzak, suggested the establishment of a “Citizens for Motti” group. Others suggested cancellation of studies Sunday to enable students to join the mass rally. But Ashkenazi himself opposed institutionalizing the effort, which up to new has had a spontaneous effect.

Prof. Yeshayahu Leibovitz said: “The problem is not that of the old growing playboy (Dayan) but the policy of the entire regime.” Moked Knesseter Meir Payil said Dayan was a symbol of the loss of Zionist vision by the Israeli leadership. A young Likud Knesset member, Ehud Olmert, supported Ashkenazi’s demand for an investigation of ministerial responsibility in the war but opposed his demand for Dayan’s resignation. Olmert was booed.

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