B’nai Zion Convention Urges Adoption of ‘group Libel Laws’ in U.S.

Adoption of “group libel laws,” outlawing defamatory writings directed against any “community or group” in the United States, was advocated here in a resolution adopted at the 51st annual convention of B’nai Zion, the American fraternal Zionist organization.

The resolution was unanimously adopted after Hyman J. Fliegel, of New York, an attorney, who is national president of B’nai Zion, pointed out in an address that “men like Gerald Smith, Conde McGinley and Lincoln Rockwell are permitted freely to spread hatred, violent ridicule and, through use of other techniques of Hitler’s poison, attack groups through their libelous periodicals and pamphlets because our present laws are inadequate.”

The resolution calls for the adoption of new laws, or the amendment of existing statutes, on federal, state and local levels to outlaw as “criminal libel” writings chailling a group or community. Mr. Fliegel told the convention delegates that he has sent a memorandum to the American Bar Association, of which he is a member, citing the “urgent need” for group criminal libel laws.

The delegates also adopted a resolution assailing “the nefarious practices” of the American Council for Judaism; called for an end to the United Arab Republic’s blockade of the Suez Canal against Israeli goods and shipping; called for continued American aid to Israel and to the underdeveloped areas in the Middle East: pledged continued support to the program of the American Jewish Congress; and accepted a $100,000 quota for the Jewish National Fund, a 25 percent increase over B’nai Zion’s $75,000 contribution to the JNF last year.

Another resolution roundly condemned the Soviet Union for “its warmongering tactics,” urging the United States to “stand firm” in seeking “to preserve peace” without making further concessions “which would undermine the strength and the security of the Western nations.” Mr. Fliegel was re-elected national president of the B’nai Zion.