Ben-gurion Honored in Los Angeles; Talks to Students at University

Seventy-five members of California Machal, made up of Americans who fought for Israel’s liberation in 1943, and some 50 Jewish Legionnaires who fought with British forces to liberate Palestine in World War I welcomed David Ben-Gurion at separate meetings here last night following his arrival.

The Machal members, most of them in their forties, led by president Frank Bear, hailed Mr. Ben-Gurion as their former commander-in-chief. The Legionnaires, most of them in their late sixties and early seventies, welcomed him as their former comrade-in-arms. Both groups presented checks to the former Premier to be used for schoolbooks and school materials at his Medrasha at Sde Boker in the Negev.

But the enthusiasm of both groups was turned into embarrassed silence when the former Premier asked each in turn “Since you fought to give an independent Israel, why haven’t you come to settle among us or send your children to Israel?” A number of Machal members declared that they still hoped to settle after a while.

Mr. Ben-Gurion was greeted upon his arrival by more than 100 schoolchildren waiting in the American Airlines Satellite, who serenaded him with Israeli songs. He was welcomed by Victor M. Carter, president of the Jewish Federation-Council; Albert A. Spiegel, general chairman of the Welfare Fund and Av Shalom Caspi, consul general of Israel for the western states, plus 40 Federation officers and welfare fund leaders.

Today he visited students at the University of California, Los Angeles campus, and the UCLA Hillel Council. Additionally, he was the guest of honor at a luncheon tendered by Chancellor Franklin Murphy and some 30 faculty members. In the evening, he was guest of honor at the inaugural dinner of the 1967 United Jewish Welfare Fund drive at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.