American Jewish Committee Leaders Outline Organization’s Policy Toward Israel

The policy of the American Jewish Committee with regard to Israel was outlined here last night by leaders of the organization addressing the annual meeting of the New York chapter held at the Barbizon-Plaza hotel. Harold Riegelman was elected chairman of the chapter.

Irving M. Engel, chairman of the administration committee of the American Jewish Committee, said: “Once freed from the threat of aggression, the newly-created state of Israel is certain to confer lasting benefits of peace, liberty, equality, justice and economic security upon all its inhabitants, Jew and Arab alike. By so doing, it will exert a positive influence in behalf of the democratic way of life, not only in the Near East, but throughout the world. In common with the vast majority of American citizens of all faiths, we heartily welcome the new state of Israel into the family of nations.”

Dr. Simon Segal, director of the home office of the American Jewish Committee’s foreign affairs department, told the parley that a very clear distinction must be made between the functions and allegiances of Israeli citizens and of Jews in other countries. “The American Jewish Committee,” he said, “is working to achieve clarity of thought in regard to this distinction. In addition one of its main functions is to seek to further cooperation between the Jewish and Arab communities in Palestine, and between the Jew there and the Arab world. Understanding must be achieved if lasting peace is to come to the Middle East.”