Expressing disappointment at Prime Minister Churchill’s and President Roosevelt’s references to the Palestine problem in their reports on the Crimea Conference, Dr. Abba Hillel Silver has issued a statement to the press urging American Zionists to mobilize behind “a vigorous, militant policy”.
“Mr. Churchill has made it clear that no decision on Palestine has been taken, nor is one contemplated until the end of the war. Silver said, “In my opinion there was never solid ground for anticipating a Positive pro-Zionist declaration to issue from Malta, Yalta or Egypt. I made no secret of my views, but always cautioned against false hopes and unfounded optimism. Repeatedly I warned my fellow Zionists that our battle was far from won and advocated a policy of constant vigilance and unrelenting militant action along our whole political front to ensure ultimate victory. For this I was bitterly attacked and my policy denounced by those who thought they knew better, who imagined themselves to be in the know, and who fostered a false atmosphere of inflated expecteation. They attached exaggerated importance to their personal standing in official circles. They decried public agitation and the pressure of public opinion as harmful and a Congressional Resolution on Palestine as super-fluous, untimely and inconsequential. They believed the time had come for our diplomats’ to take over.”
Emphasizing that “events have proved them to be hopelessly in the wrong,” Dr. Silver concuded, “In the face of this new and bitter disappointment, our movement must recover its sense of reality, shake off illusions and gird itself for the great struggle which still lies ahead. We must rally our forces and mobilize all our resources once more for a united, all out effort to bring the realization of our historic aspirations. The future of Israel is at stake. This is no time for weakness and cautious ‘moderation’. The moment calls for high courage and a return to a vigorous, militant policy.”
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