Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, declared here today that the Zionist movement will be unable to forge a bond between the Jewish people outside this country and Israel, if it does not enjoy the unlimited support of the Israel Government. Dr. Goldmann concluded the general debate at the session of the Zionist Actions Committee.
“The Israel Government has no Jewish policy whatsoever; this lack evidences a terrible shortsightedness,” he said. “Sometimes I wonder and try to understand what policy the Government assumes toward the Zionist movement. I assert that this state of affairs cannot go on much longer. I say, with full responsibility, that the State of Israel today impairs efforts being made to secure the unity of the Jewish people.”
Turning to the subject of political parties within the Zionist movement, he said he had no objection to the parties continuing their activities, “but the trouble is that the movement is built on these parties.” The question, he said, is: “Are the parties ready to accept a new image? Zionism as a movement with an ideology searches for people. Every, movement pursues believers, and there is nothing wrong in this. But the parties are fervently trying to find supporters and see this as their principal function.”
Concluding his statement, Dr. Goldmann reiterated: “If the State of Israel does not decide that it wants the Zionist movement, the movement will have no future. If another organization is established to work for Israel, I will welcome it. But first it must be decided what is demanded of the movement. I hope it is possible to change the situation and, during the forthcoming Zionist Congress, we will implement a program directed to this end.”
Dr. Max Nussbaum, president of the Zionist Organization of America, also blamed the present condition of the Zionist movement today on “attacks on Zionism” as the “daily fare” from Israel’s leading figures. He said Israeli leaders must join with Zionists in strengthening the movement and enhancing its prestige “which now is at its lowest ebb.”
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