41 Jewish Mps in New House of Commons; 90 Non-jewish Labor Friends of Israel Also in House

The new House of Commons has 41 Jewish members and 90 non-Jewish members who are good friends of Israel. Thirty-five Jewish MPs were reelected on the Labor ticket, five on the Conservative ticket and one on the Liberal ticket. The Labor MPs include Maurice Edelman, the novelist; Maurice Ohrbach, director of the Jewish Trades Advisory Council; Ian Mikardo, former chairman of the Labor Party; Dr. Maurice Miller, a former chairman of Poale Zion; and Greville Janner, QC, son of Lord Janner; and Sir Meyer Galpern, former Lord Mayor of Glascow.

The Conservatives include Sir Keith Joseph, the outgoing Secretary of State for Social Security; and Michael Fidler, former president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Martin Cohen, general secretary of the Labor Friends of Israel, told the JTA that 90 members of the new House are members of the Labor Friends of Israel. These include Anthony Wedgwood-Benn, Edward Short, Anthony Crosland; Peter Shore and Raymond Fletcher, who is the chairman of the Parliamentary group of the Labor Friends of Israel.

Non-Jewish Conservatives, dedicated friends of Israel, include Winston S. Churchill, Hugh Dykes, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher and John Gorst. The leading Liberal non-Jewish friend of Israel is Jeremy Thorpe, head of the Liberal Party. None of the candidates of the National Front, the descendents of the British Union of Fascists, won any seats.

It was noted here that from the point of view of Israel, both Labor and Conservatives are invariably friendlier to Israel in opposition than in the government. Labor’s declared policy is to maintain the existing friendship between Israel and the party but to try and continue the existing friendship between Britain and the Arabs.