The Bialik Prizes for Hebrew literature and Israeli knowledge, awarded annually by the municipality of Tel Aviv, were presented last night to Zalman Schneour. Hebrew poet, and to David Ben Gurion, the Israeli Prime Minister. The award to Schneour was for two volumes of poems and to the Premier, for a book of essays on Israel’s fight for liberation and the future of the country.
Presentation of the awards, named after the great Hebrew poet. Chaim Nachman Bialik, was made by Mayor Israel Rokach, in the presence of the city council and a host of notables at a heavily guarded ceremony. Special security measures had been taken to prevent demonstrations by the right-wing Herut Party at the ceremony. Herut, Mapam and Communist members of the city council had voted atainst giving the award to Mr. Ben Gurion as a protest following the rioting in Jerusalem last Monday.
In accepting the award, Mr. Ben Gurion stressed the need to develop science and literature for he conquest of the desert and national education. The awards carry 500 Israel pounds each.
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