More than $52.8 million in Israel Bonds were purchased for the International Dinner launching the world-wide 1983 Israel Bond campaign held here last Sunday. The dinner, which was attended by 2,000 Jewish leaders from the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America, was to have been addressed by Premier Menachem Begin who left Los Angeles and returned to Israel on learning of the death of his wife, Aliza.
The Israel Ambassador to the United States, Moshe Arens, delivered the principal address at the dinner and joined with Sam Rothberg, general chairman of the Israel Bond Organization, in presenting the 1982 Golda Meir Leadership Award to William Belzberg of Los Angeles.
Commenting on the record Israel Bond sales for the dinner, Rothberg declared: “Opinions may differ on Israel’s policies, but recent events have proved, as in the past, that when the security of the people of Israel is at stake, the Jews of North America and the rest of the free world will stand united and respond as one to Israel’s needs.”
He pointed out that the Israel Bond Organization shortly expects to reach a total of $6 billion in cash receipts since its inception in 1951, adding: “We also hope that within the weeks remaining in our 1982 campaign, we will exceed the $515 million in Israel Bonds sold in 1973, the year of the Yom Kippur War, thus making our 1982 achievement the largest amount in our 32-year history.”
In his address, Arens pointed out that the United States and Israel have the same goals in the Middle East “but we have a difference of opinion on tactics.”
“When we examine our differences,” he continued, “they inevitably come down to one issue. How big a risk should Israel take? What seems a small risk in Washington is an inordinate risk to us.” He added: “I know you will stand with us and agree with us in the risks we cannot take.”
Among the Jewish leaders attending the dinner were 200 Founders of the Mediterranean-Dead Sea Canal project, each of whom purchased $100,000 or more in Israel Bonds.
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