Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion reported to the Cabinet yesterday on the statement issued jointly by him and Jacob Blaustein, honorary president of the American Jewish Committee, clarifying the relations between Israel and Jewish communities in other countries. He said that the statement was nothing more than affirmation of an earlier agreement reached to this effect in 1950.
The Prime Minister maintained that the joint statement did not contradict the charter given by the Israel Government to the World Zionist Organization, nor did it accord to the American Jewish Committee any recognition that it represents American Jewry. Any organization that would seek clarification from the Israeli Government on those questions would obtain a reply, the Prime Minister stressed.
Some Cabinet members expressed the view that the statement should have been cleared within the Government councils prior to its issuance. They deplored the timing in the issuance of the statement, claiming that it reflected on the Zionist Actions Committee which was in session in Jerusalem just at the time when the joint statement was made public. Mr. Ben-Gurion replied that the timing was a coincidence.
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