Canadian Zionists Preparing to Mobilize Public Opinion Against Appearance of PLO at Toron to Parley

The national executive of the Canadian Zionist Federation decided at its meeting here this week to hold its next tri-annual national convention in Jerusalem in February 1976. The national executive also announced the creation of the CZF college for teacher-training in Israel which will be opened in September 1976. Jewish young men and women from Canada will journey to Israel for teacher-training and then return to Canada to teach in local Jewish schools across the country.

Philip Givens, president of the CZF, informed the meeting that preparations are under way to mobilize public opinion against the appearance of the Palestine Liberation Organization at the international conference on crime to be held in Toronto on Sept. 12 under the auspices of the United Nations.

Avraham Shenker, member of the World Zionist Organization in Jerusalem, made a detailed report on the relationship between Israel and diaspora Jews and concluded by saying that there are indications that political settlement will follow in the next few months between Israel and the Arab countries as a result of the present efforts made by the United States and the Soviet Union. The peace conference in Geneva some time later this year will be the test as to whether any Arab group recognizes Israel and is prepared to give up terrorism, Shenker said.

Aaron Pollack, chairman of the Canada Israel Committee, said that “We want specific action from the Canadian government regarding the Arab boycott. The quest for petro-dollars should not conflict with basic ethics of the Canadian bill of rights.” It was also announced that university professors from Israel will be visiting at McGill, Carlton and Toronto Universities beginning next fall.