Asserting that Israelis are “turning increasingly” to the right-wing Herut party, Menachem Beigin, its leader, launched an independent South African Revisionist fund-raising campaign last night with a request for enough funds to “break Mapai domination” and “end Histadrut usurpation” in Israel.
Addressing a well attended banquet in City Hall, the Herut leader described the party’s program and asserted that Prime Minister David Ben Gurion had followed the Herut program in launching the Sinai operation.
Beigin charged that the Prime Minister “reneged” in agreeing to withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, adding that if Israel forces had remained, border security would have been consolidated and President Nasser toppled.
The campaign which he and Chaim Landau, his deputy, came especially to South Africa to launch has led to the expulsion of the Revisionists from the South African Zionist Federation and appeals from the Federation and the Board of Jewish Deputies to South African Jews to ignore the independent fund-raising.
Beigin told the banquet audience that his party had “a good chance” to achieve power in the next election if “we can get our message to the entire Israel electorate,” for which substantial funds were needed.
Asserting that the Histadrut was responsible for “driving away” investment capital, particularly from the United States. Beigin claimed that his party deserved essential credit for French friendship toward Israel, adding this was “substantiated” by French sources.
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