A world-wide Jewish plebiscite to decide whether Israel and Jewish organizations in other countries should negotiate directly with Germany for reparations was demanded here tonight by Menahem Beigin, leader of the Herut Party in Israel, addressing a mass meeting in Town Hall.
Mr. Beigin said that the issue of direct dealings with Germany concerned not only the State of Israel but the Jews throughout the world. He called upon the Israel Government to cease reparations talks with the Germans. He also appealed to leaders of democratic countries not to re-arm Germany and not to enter into any agreement with the Bonn Government for the “defense of civilization.”
Mr. Beigin called for a system of free enterprise in Israel and “complete separation between power of the ruler and the power of the employer” which he described as “a guarantee of preservation of civil liberties and human dignity.” He expressed his confidence that a change would be brought about in the present system in Israel, through democratic procedure.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.