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B’nai B’rith Leader Urges U.S. Jews to Avoid Mideast Map-making

December 20, 1972
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The Israeli policy of “not an inch of withdrawal without a negotiated peace” was firmly supported yesterday by a former president of B’nai B’rith. Label A. Katz, who headed the organization for six years from 1959 through 1965, also urged Jewish leadership in the United States to avoid “any suggestions of map-making” In the Middle East, although differences on the future of the administered territories, which can affect future boundaries, are often debated by Israel’s leaders and the Israeli public.

Addressing the annual meeting of the policy-making B’nai B’rith Board of Governors, Katz declared that map-making is “a policy for Israelis and their opposites in the Arab lands. The commentary of outsiders, including well-meaning brokers’ efforts by other governments obscures a critical point that has persisted since June 1967: a real peace still depends on face-to-face negotiations.” Katz visited Israel last month, his first trip there since suffering loss of eyesight shortly after completing his term of presidency.

New York Congressman Emanuel Celler, retiring after 49 years, was honored yesterday at the B’nai B’rith luncheon. David M. Blumberg, B’nai B’rith president, presented Celler with the President’s Medal for his distinguished service in Congress and to the Jewish people. Celler had the record of sponsoring 350 bills and four amendments to the U.S. Constitution. He was the longest presiding member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the history of Congress.

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