Pinhas Sapir, chairman of the World Zionist Organization, today called on world Jewry to help Israel explain to the world the justice of its political case and position. “Sadly,” Sapir said in his Independence Day message, “Israel’s readiness for peace is displayed abroad as an intransigent position.” He said this year’s Independence Day finds Israel in the midst of a tough and fateful political struggle.
At the same time, though, Israel and the Jewish people control within their power and ability the future strength and growth of Israel–which in themselves are the best guarantee of its future political strength, Sapir said. He called for mass aliya as the “duty and right,” of Zionist organizations everywhere to “encourage, organize and foster.”
Expressing concern at the state of Soviet aliya Sapir said that “the more the Soviet Jews long for Zion, the more obstacles are put in their way….We will do everything to ensure that they can come to Israel without interference and that their creative absorption in the country be effected…”
He spoke, too, of the ongoing concern for the fate of Soviet Jewry, pledging to do all possible to save this community. “Let us remember that despite the difficulties and the obstacles, the State of Israel lives and flourishes,” Sapir concluded. “….with the help of the savior of Israel we shall march together on the path leading to peace….” The message was tape-recorded for distribution to Zionist federations abroad where it was to be played over loudspeakers during independence Day celebrations.
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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.
