Jewish Leaders Brand As ‘absolutely Untrue’ Rumors That Jewish Groups Seeking to Block Fulbright Ree

A rumor current here that Jewish organizations may be seeking to prevent the reelection of Sen. J. William Fulbright (D.Ark.) to a sixth term in Nov. was denounced by organization leaders today as “absolutely untrue.” They emphasized that Fulbright’s political future is a decision of voters in Arkansas.

Herman Edelsberg, director of the B’nai B’rith International Council said: “Jewish organizations disagree with Sen. Fulbright’s interpretation of America’s national interests in Middle East affairs. We are convinced that he tilts sharply to the Arab side. But none of the organizations is interfering in any way in the Arkansas state election because they believe that judgement on the relative merits of Sen. Fulbright and his opponents is something that the voters of Arkansas must make for themselves.”

Hyman Bookbinder, Washington representative of the American Jewish Committee said: “Sen. Fulbright has been a controversial figure for many years. He has many backers as well as opponents. I am sure that Jews are included in both groups. His stands on civil rights defense and Israel have stirred strong feelings but I am completely satisfied that there is no Jewish effort to defeat Fulbright for reelection. I am sure I would know if there were. It would be wrong for such an effort to be organized. Jewish agencies will remain scrupulously neutral as they have in other political campaigns.”

Fulbright, long severely critical of Zionism and U.S. governmental aid to Israel, said only two weeks ago on a television program that Zionists are trying to oust him from the Senate where he has served 30 years. Some listeners felt his remark was to provoke attacks on him from Jewish leaders which his backers could then flaunt to traditionally anti-Semitic extremists as proof of Jewish animosity towards him.

The rumor may have stemmed from a news report Jan. 27 in the Memphis Commercial Appeal by John Bennet of its bureau in Little Rock. Bennet reported that former two-term Arkansas Gov. Sidney McMath had talked with “a long-time Jewish friend” whom Bennet said he identified as Irving M. Engel, about raising Jewish campaign funds for Arkansas Gov. Dale Bumpers for a race against Fulbright. Engel, a former president of the American Jewish Committee, and currently honorary president and board of governor’s member, practiced law in Alabama and is a friend of many southern political leaders. The McMath-Engel talk, Bennet said, took place in New York. Queried by the JTA in New York, Engel said, “no comment.” According to the Commercial Appeal, McMath is considering opposing Fulbright for the Senate seat.