E.D. Gotein, Israel Minister to South Africa who leaves next week for the United States to assume a Ministerial post Blinder Ambassador Abba Eban, last night told South African Zionists that while his mission to this country had been “eminently successful on the government-al level, “he had failed in his “personal” mission regarding the Zionists.
“Your enthusiasm for Israel has become dissipated in internal strafe, ” the Israel diplomat bluntly declared. “I have failed to instill in you an overriding urgency for Israel today. ” Paying tribute to the assistance tendered Israel by the Government of South Africa, Mr. Gotein said: “I wonder how many Zionists realize how keen the present South African Government has been to help our small state.”
Various Zionist leaders, including Joseph Daleski, vice-chairman of the Zionist Federation, which sponsored the reception in Gotein’s honor, paid tribute to the ability with which the diplomat had carried out his missions. I. A. Maisels, chairman of the South African Board of Jewish Deputies, also lauded the Israeli Minister.
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