Strong support for Israel was widely expressed in responses from 75 members of Congress and nine governors who accepted membership in the National Council of the America-Israel Friendship League, according to Herbert Tenzer, president of the League.
Tenzer, a former Congressman, said that the enthusiastic response from such a large segment of Washington legislators was unique in his experience. The majority of acceptances came within a three-week period, he said. “The positive responses overwhelmingly supportive of Israel and the aims of the League,” Tenzer explained, “are an indication of grass-roots backing for maintaining the friendship, goodwill and understanding between the people of the United States and Israel.”
Through its nationwide, non-sectarian, nonpolitical effort, the League promotes those goals through the interchange of cultural, artistic and scientific knowledge by bringing Americans and Israelis closer together with its educational exchange programs, Tenzer said. It also works with other organizations, government agencies and educational institutions to maintain and strengthen the goodwill between the two nations on a people-to-people basis, he added.
GOVERNORS AND SOLONS WHO JOINED
In announcing the list of political leaders, Tenzer stated that the new Council members, “truly represent a broad segment of the American population, both geographically and politically.” The governors who accepted membership on the National Council are George R. Ariyoshi, Hawaii, Ella Grasso, Connecticut; James B. Hunt, N.C.; Richard F. Kneip.
The nine U.S. Senators who have become National Council members include Wendell R. Anderson (D. Minn.); Birch Bayh (D. Ind.); Dennis DeConcini (D. Ariz.); H. John Heinz, III (R. Pa.); J. Bennett Johnston (D. La.); Spark M. Matsunaga (D. Hawaii); Daniel Maynihan (D.N.Y.); Claiborne Pell (D.R.I.); and Harrison Williams (D.N.J.).
The largest contingent from any single state was 21 members of the House of Representatives from New York. California supplied six, while Illinois and New Jersey each accounted for five congressional members of the Council.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
