The Canadian Hadassah-WIZO leadership “People to People Mission “which this correspondent accompanied in a 16 day tour of Israel and Egypt from Nov. 3-20 successfully combined new dedications of social and cultural institutions inside Israel with an in-depth examination of the political situation in both countries and the chances of improving peaceful relations between them.
Lead by Mirial Small, national president of Hadassah-WIZO, Cecilly Peters, coordinator and Lilly Frank, executive vice-president, the leadership mission visited the southern airfields to be handed back to Egypt; the development towns of Yamit and Ofakim as well as the “good fence” at the Lebanese border where it met with Maj. Saad Haddad, commander of Christian farces. It familiarized itself with the complex security problems facing Israel during the normalization period of relations with Egypt.
The Canadian Hadassah-WIZO mission dedicated a kindergarten for Druze children in the Druze village of Julis. Sheikh Kamel Tareef welcomed the delegation and stressed the loyalty of the Druze people to the State of Israel. Other dedications look place at Ramat Israel where the Rose Kanee Community Center was inaugurated in the presence of Shlomo Lahat, Mayor of Tel Aviv.
RECEIVED BY MRS. SADAT
The high school and vocational school of Magdiel where on Olympic-size sports and culture center was opened for the boy and girl students, represented another Hadassah-WIZO project made possible by the Kanee family of Winnipeg. At the Acre Youth Village where the Hadassah-WIZO of Canada supports a school for children from under-privileged families, the Krupp’s Sports Center was inaugurated.
In Cairo, Mrs. Jihan Sadat, wife of President Anwar Sadat, received the Canadian mission and spoke warmly about the ongoing rapprochement process between the Egyptian and Israeli people. She expressed her hopes that Egypt’s example will be soon followed by other Arab nations. A splendid Eskimo sculpture was presented to Mrs. Sadat by Mrs. Small as a token of friendship. The gift was graciously accepted.
Back to Jerusalem, the Canadian Hadassah-WIZO mission met with Mayor Teddy Krollek and president of the Hebrew University, Abraham Haman and heard briefings on the political situation from Knesset members Ora Namir, Shulamit Aloni, Geula Cohen, Roni Milo and Joseph Rom. The five MKs urged diaspora Jews to settle in Israel.
Ofira Navon, wife of President Yitzhak Navon, received the delegation at Beth Hannassi, the presidential residence. She thanked the Canadians for the tremendous support of Israel’s social and cultural institutions. Mrs. Navon will visit Canada next January.
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