Israel’s Foreign Minister Abba Eban said last night that “discrimination” was the common element between the person who is an anti-Semite and the man who is anti-Israel. The former says every man is equal, except the Jew; the latter says every nation is equal, except Israel, Eban stated. Addressing some 500 people attending the Synagogue Council of America’s annual Statesmen Award Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Eban commented on the “lack of moral values” of a world community of 132 nations that can recognize the equality and sovereignty of every nation but Israel.
He noted that throughout the world there was a growing concept of dialogue and negotiation to settle the world’s problems. Everywhere, but in the Middle East, he said. But, he added. “I do not believe the Middle East can long be left out of the current vogue of dialogue and negotiations.”
Discussing the advice of the big powers that Israel “need not worry about this boundary or the other, about Sharm el-Sheikh or the Golan Heights” because the Security Council would “guarantee” Israel’s security, Eban said “there is only one thing wrong. They (guarantees) do not exist. They did not exist in the past and they don’t exist now.” Eban was presented with the Council’s “Judaism and World Peace Award,” a silver menorah created by Israeli artist Moshe Zabari.
CHRISTIANS SUPPORT ISRAEL. USSR JEWS
Earlier in the evening, Dr. Cynthia Wedel, president of the National Council of Churches of Christ, conceded that “the Christian community has often failed to support the cause of the Jews and of Israel today as you wish we did.” But she added “there are many Christians who are supporting you.” Mrs. Wedel said “We share fully your concern that the whole question of peace in the Middle East be brought to the conference table for discussion by those directly involved.
Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin. General Secretary of the US Catholic Conference, spoke of the Christian support for the plight of Jews in the Soviet Union. “This oppression calls forth, from all men of good will, sympathy toward the oppressed and indignation towards the oppressors.” He said he believed this “also demands unceasing protest on the part of the Christian community, many of whose own members experience the same suppression of fundamental human rights and liberties.”
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