Ichud Party Issues Declaration on Immigration and Zionist Discipline

The newly created Ichud (“Union”) Party here which is advocating Jewish-Arab rapprochement on the basis of the establishment of a binational state in Palestine, today issued a declaration clarifying its attitude towards Jewish immigration and Zionist discipline – the two points on which the Zionist Actions Committee asked for a clear statement. The declaration states:

“1. The Ichud Party favors continued Jewish immigration, opposes any measure which would result in the Jews of Palestine permanently remaining a minority, aims to create a political and economic situation which would enable the absorption of the greatest possible number of Jewish immigrants in Palestine, and is for complete political, social, cultural and economic cooperation with the Arab population.

“2. It is the opinion of the Ichud Party that political progress, based upon equal rights for the peoples of Palestine, and the inclusion of Palestine in a federal union with the neighboring countries guaranteeing the basic rights and essential interests of all involved, constitutes an effective and most helpful way of securing enlarged immigration.

“3. On the basis of the above viewpoint, the Ichud Party is to join the League for Jewish-Arab Rapprochement and Cooperation according to principles agreed upon by the League.

“4. Recognized Zionist institutions alone have the right to enter into binding political negotiations with extraneous factors. On the other hand, the Ichud declares that every citizen and Zionist group has the right to enter into direct contact with Jews and non-Jews for the purpose of clarifying the situation and exchanging views regarding possibilities of preparing ground for proposals and plans which would then be brought before recognized institutions.”