A huge demonstration of thousands of Jews will take place here tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden to protest any thought of the United States Government imposing sanctions against Israel. The demonstration is arranged by the American Zionist Council, which represents all Zionist groups in this country. The American Jewish Congress and the Jewish War Veterans organization have joined in the call for the demonstration.
An appeal to President Eisenhower asking him to see to it that sanctions are not imposed on Israel was sent this week-end by leaders of 17 national Jewish organizations. The appeal asserted that sanctions against Israel “would be immoral, unjust and would continue to jeopardize the peace in the Middle East” particularly in view of Egypt’s continued belligerency. Copies of the appeal were wired to Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and to leading members of Congress. The message read:
“Reports that negotiations between our Government and the Government of Israel are continuing, encourage us to hope that an amicable understanding which will provide Israel with the security assurances it needs will be reached. The accomplishment of these purposes by the good offices of the United States will enable the United Nations to bring about a peaceful resolution of the Middle East crisis.
“It is our urgent plea that no steps be taken to precipitate suspension or termination of these negotiations. All Americans support your aim that justice and morality shall prevail. We behave that the imposition of sanctions against Israel and the restoration of the status quo ante would defeat this aim. Such action would be immoral, unjust, and would continue to jeopardize the peace of the Middle East so vital to the interests of our country and the free world, particularly in view of Egypt’s continued belligerency.
“We are confident that the views expressed in this communication, Mr. President, reflect the opinion of the Jewish community of this country as well as the sentiment of the overwhelming majority of the American people.”
The message was signed by the following organization presidents: Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein of the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs; Joseph Breslaw of the American Trade Union Council for Labor Israel; Mrs. Moise S. Cahn of the National Council of Jewish Women: William Carmen of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.; Dr. Maurice N. Eisendrath of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Moses I, Feuerstein of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America; Dr. Miriam Freund of Hadassah; Dr. Israel Goldstein of the American Jewish Congress; Dr. Nahum Goldmann of the Jewish Agency.
Also. Adolph Held of the Jewish Labor Committee; Philip M. Klutznick of B’nai B’rith Rabbi Isaac Stollman of Mizrachi-Hapoel Mizrachi of America; Rabbi Irving Miller of the American Zionist Council; Dr. Emanuel Neumann of the Zionist Organization of America; Charles Rosengarten of the United Synagogue of America; Louis Segal of the Labor Zionists; and Bernard H. Trager of the National Community Relations Advisory Council.
U. S. CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE DENOUNCES SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL
In addition, Dr. Isaac Lewin, chairman of the American section of the Agudas Israel World Organization, sent a telegram to President Eisenhower appealing to him “for a just solution of the Gaza and Akaba problem.” He pointed out that “unilateral sanctions against Israel would certainly be unjustified.” Nothing that the remnants of European Jewry live in Israel, Dr. Lewin asked the President to help keep them free of provocations and fedayeen attacks.
The American Christian Palestine Committee, concluding a three-day national conference here, adopted resolutions calling upon the U. S. Government to “keep open wide” the door to negotiations and to renounce the idea of sanctions against Israel. The resolutions were critical of the Eisenhower Doctrine which was called no guide to solutions of problems troubling the area and incapable of keeping Soviet arms or influence out of the Middle East.
The Eisenhower Administration was further urged to: support direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Arab states; grant “immediate and unequivocal” assurances to Israel on its right of navigation in the Gulf of Akaba; urge the UN to occupy the Gaza Strip until the future of the territory had been settled between Egypt and Israel, and secure Israel’s right of access to the Suez Canal.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
