Hadassah Announces Stand on Split in General Zionist Confederation

The official position of Hadassah on the split in the World Confederation of General Zionists — of which Hadassah is a member — was outlined here today by Dr. Miriam Freund, national president of the organization, following her return from Israel where she attended the sessions of the Zionist Actions Committee.

“The World Confederation of General Zionists can operate only if it includes organizations not identified with any political group in Israel,” Dr. Freund stated. She reiterated the view expressed last week in Jerusalem by Mrs, Rose Halprin, former president of Hadassah and acting chairman of the American section of the Jewish Agency.

Dr. Freund said that Hadassah will continue — to the extent that its resources permit — to facilitate the absorption of immigrants into Israel through its vast network of hospitals, vocational training and social services. On the American scene, she said, it will cooperate in the implementation of the Actions Committee resolution calling for intensified education of Jewish youth and for appropriate observance of Israel’s 10th anniversary.

“Despite the much-publicized differences between Premier Ben Gurion and Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, there are broad areas of agreement between the two leaders concerning ultimate objectives, “the Hadassah president declared in her statement. She stressed the “vital importance” of focussing attention upon the goals and hopes of Zionism as a means of helping to strengthen Zionist groups in the United States and elsewhere, which she regards as “basic for the future welfare of the State of Israel and the bonds which cement it to Jewry throughout the world.” She said that the differences between Premier Ben Gurion and the world Zionist movement arose primarily over “the status and functions of the world Zionist movement, and not on matters of fundamental principle.”