A second Zionist Organization of America may be established if the present Z.O.A. persists in identifying itself with Israel’s General Zionist Party, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the American section of the Jewish Agency executive, today told a press conference here.
He asserted that “it would be easy to increase to 50 percent or more”” the one-third of the votes cast by delegates at the recent .Z.O.A. convention at Atlantic City against a resolution pledging support to Israel’s General Zionist Party. “a majority of those in opposition felt that the Z.O.A. should not support any party,” Dr. Goldmann added. He urged the creation of single Zionist organizations in countries outside Israel thus lessening the influence of the political parties which, he maintained, have transferred their disputes from Israel to their respective countries, disrupting fundamental Zionist activities. Such disputes, he pointed out, discourage numbers of Zionists from supporting pro-Israel activities because they will not be drawn into local politics.
Declaring that there are good chances that Israel will be paid compensation I by Germany Dr. Goldmann expressed the belief that this could be done only by direct I negotiations. “Britain and the “United States will not exert the necessary pressure which is needed today, because even the Germans now feel that they cannot afford to pay because they must “build up an army,” he pointed out.
Dr. Goldmann reported that the United Jewish Appeal is doing better this year than was expected and will raise at least as much as last year, and possibly more. This should amount to about $95,000,000, with 70 percent of the total going, to Israel, he stated. In addition, he estimated that some $70,000,000 in cash would be brought in by the Israel Bond Drive.
Warning of the possibility of increased pressure from the major powers on Israel to compromise its stand regarding relations with the Arabs, the Zionist leader emphasized the need for stronger organization of support from Jews abroad for Israel. This support will be especially needed during the forthcoming Paris session of the U.N. General Assembly this autumn, he said, adding that political support can best be given by organized Zionists. The non-Zionists, he declared, were effective in fund-raising campaigns.
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