Allon: Russian Anti-semitism Official Policy; Israel Bond Organization Maps 1971 Plans

Deputy Prime Minister Yigal Allon of Israel today accused the Soviet Union of “resorting anew to the despicable weapon of official anti-Semitism,” while at the same time fomenting conflict in the Middle East. He declared that Russia is employing discrimination and oppression including secret trials and prison camps to “break the spirit” of Jews who wish to emigrate to Israel. In the major address at the National Leadership Mobilization Conference the Israel Bond Organization, Mr. Allon said that Israel “is waiting with open arms” to receive the Jews from Russia and called upon men of the free world to “raise their voices loud and clear” in protest to demand for Jews in the USSR “the elementary human right of freedom to live in the country of their choice.” The Israeli leader observed that world-wide protest, “unaccompanied by violence” had proved its effectiveness. Mr. Allon made a hurried 48-hour trip to the United States this weekend in order to meet with more than 350 Jewish leaders from the United States and Canada at the Commodore Hotel. The purpose of the conference was to plan an unprecedented campaign for the sale of $400 million in State of Israel Bonds this year to provide greatly increased support for Israel’s economic development. Large-scale investment in economic development is urgently needed, the Deputy Premier asserted, because Israel is now compelled to devote “such a large proportion of her own resources to the ever-swelling defense budget.”

Israel’s record expenditures for defense are due to the fact that Soviet Russia is supplying Egypt and Syria with sophisticated weapons on an unprecedented scale, Allon declared, emphasizing that the “presence of 20,000 advisers on Egyptian soil” points to increasing Russian involvement in the area. “The USSR is once again engaged in the dangerous game of brinkmanship which led to the reckless aggression of Egypt and her crushing defeat in 1967, and which now encourages Egyptian extremism,” he said. Allon challenged President Sadat of Egypt to “give proof of his courage and Egypt’s sovereign independence at the conference table,” Israel is confident in her strength and in the justice of her cause, knowing that in the United States “she has a good friend,” he asserted. Allon added that Israel is not intimidated by “the daily blasts of bellicose bravado of the President of Egypt.” By returning to the Jarring talks, he said, Israel has once again given “signal proof of her sincere desire for peace.” Expressing surprise at Egypt’s demand that the peace settlement be arranged by the Four Powers, Allon rejected the plan, asserting, “The intervention of the Four Powers has not only frustrated peace efforts, but has fostered illusions and encouraged an attitude in the Arab states which militates against peace.”

Sam Rothberg, general chairman of the Israel Bond Organization, announced that President Zalman Shazar of Israel had accepted an invitation to come to the United States for the official inaugural of the world-wide campaign for the sale of $400 million this year. The Inaugural will be held in Miami Beach from March 4-6. Abraham Feinberg, board of directors chairman of the Israel Bond Organization, declared that housing and employment opportunities must be provided for 50,000 new immigrants who are expected to arrive in Israel in 1971. He also pointed out that non-defense industries must be expanded to absorb workers now engaged in producing arms and other defense items. Feinberg estimated that more than 220,000 workers, or more than 20 percent of the country’s labor force, are now employed in defense industries. As part of an expansion of campaign operations, the Leadership Conference created a National Campaign Executive Committee consisting of 35 top national and big city Israel Bond leaders. Harold J. Goldenberg of Minneapolis, long identified with Jewish Welfare Funds and United Jewish Appeal on the national scene, was elected to serve as chairman of the new campaign planning and steering committee. Leo Bernstein, who as executive vice president and chief executive officer was responsible for the conduct of the 1970 drive, said that out of a total sale of $210,679,000 last year, a record number of banks, labor unions and other institutions had purchased a total of $50 million in Israel Bonds. Bernstein said this indicated growing participation on the part of non-Jews in the program to provide substantial economic aid to Israel during the present crisis.