B’nai B’rith Urges U.s., Other Western Nations to Selectively Reduce Support of UN Agencies

B’nai B’rith’s board of governors today urged that the United States and other Western nations “selectively reduce their involvement in and financial support of UN volunteer agencies as a means of opposing the Arab and Communist blocs’ “running rough shod over the UN Charter.”

The B’nai B’rith ruling body, concluding its midwinter meeting here, cited the continued politicization of UNESCO in calling for such sanctions against that agency. It asked that “the intellectual and artistic community” continue to boycott UNESCO activities.

“B’nai B’rith’s disenchantment with the United Nations does not mean abandoning support of its fundamental purposes or hopes that its credibility and moral authority in world affairs can be restored,” said David M. Blumberg, B’nai B’rith’s president. “But we strongly endorse the decision of Congress to reassess. America’s relationships to the UN.”

OTHER ACTIONS TAKEN

In other actions, the B’nai B’rith governors appealed for Congressional approval of the Administration’s request for $2.8 billion in aid to Israel; called on Western nations to oppose efforts to alter UN Resolutions 242 and 338; called the “tragedy in Lebanon” an object lesson on the validity of the PLO as a legitimate body capable of providing “a reasonable and sincere answer to the Palestinian problem”; and denounced the continuing harassment of the “remnant Jewish communities” in Syria and Iraq, and called for “intensified efforts” to effect diplomatic interventions in their behalf.

The board adopted a $23.7 million budget–a 5.3 percent increase over last year– to finance B’nai B’rith’s wide range of programs and projects in 1976. Almost half of the amount–$11.1 million–was allocated for the organization’s sponsorship of Hillel Foundations on 350 college campuses, the 40,000-member B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and a professionally-staffed career counseling program conducted in 20 metropolitan areas.