Israel Prime Minister Eulogizes Churchill in Knesset Address

Prime Minister Levi Eshkol eulogized Sir Winston Churchill in an address before the Knesset (Parliament) today.

“From the start of his political life,” Mr. Eshkol told Parliament, “Churchill backed the struggle for Jewish rights and the right of the Jews to rebuild their own Homeland. Throughout his long career, he remained faithful to his basic, unshakable friendship. As long ago as 60 years ago, he fought against the Aliens Act, which smacked of anti-Jewish discrimination. He drew his opposition to Nazism and anti-Semitism from the depths of his religious and humanitarian concepts.”

The Premier noted that Winston Churchill supported Zionism “since the beginning of the century.” Mrs. Beba Idelson, acting Speaker of the Knesset, also eulogized Sir Winston in the Parliament. Kol Israel, the government operated radio, devoted special programs to depicting Churchill’s life and friendliness to Jews in general and to Zionism specifically. The same tone was taken by the entire press in editorials and special articles, and virtually all the people of Israel joined in showing grief over Churhill’s passing.

Plans for Israel’s official participation in the obsequies for Churchill were being made today, with a decision expected Wednesday. Under consideration now is an Israeli delegation to consist of President Zalman Shazar; former Premier David Ben-Gurion; and two deputy directors of the Foreign Ministry, Gen. Y. Herzog and E. Avriel.

Bar-Ilan University, at Ramat Gan, repeated today an announcement made recently that it will establish a Churchill Chair in International Relations. The decision for the establishment of that faculty was taken by the university, after it had received authorization from Sir Winston to use his name for the new Chair. Funds for that faculty will be contributed by the British Friends of Bar-Ilan University.