Jewish Leaders See for Themselves

“It is the duty and privilege of the Jewish people worldwide to share with Israel the tremendous economic burden created by the war in Lebanon. This is the message which must emerge from our meetings here.”

With those words of exhortation Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization Executive chairman Leon Dulzin introduced the members of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors to sites of the recent Israeli military action in Lebanon.

Standing on the ramparts of this ancient Crusader fortress, Jewish leaders from the United States, Europe and South America were told of the military threat posed to Israel’s northern settlement by Palestine Liberation Organization artillery and rockets concentrated here before Israeli forces captured this commanding spot.

Escorted by army officers, the Board of Governors and members of the Jewish Agency Assembly who convene in Jerusalem this week, travelled in convoy to Beaufort and Nabatiye, the main PLO stronghold until three weeks ago.

DULZIN: ISRAEL FREED OF 1973 TRAUMA

In his address to the Jewish Agency leaders before their tour, Dulzin said he fully endorsed Premier Menachem Begin’s assertion that the “Peace for Galilee” operation freed Israel from the trauma of the Yom Kippur War. That war raised doubts in people’s minds whether the young generation here were really up to it, Dulzin said, and this operation in Lebanon had certainly proved they were.

Dulzin listed three recent major military exploits which he said all Jews could be proud of–Entebbe, which proved that there was no place too far for Israel to rescue Jews the bombing of the Iraqi nuclear facility which proved that. Israel would do everything possible to prevent the destruction of Jews; and “Operation Peace for Galilee” which proved “the great Jewish Genius.” Dulzin was referring to the Air Force success in destroying the Syrian SAM missile batteries and downing more than 80 Syrian warplanes.

Dulzin said he saw this war as a turning point. “A new page in the history of the Middle East is being written. The day will come when Lebanon, free of the Syrians and Palestinians, will indeed be the second country to make peace with Israel, as we always hoped it would be,” Dulzin said.

He warned however that “These great days impose a great burden,” The mobilization could go on for months. While the situation was not one of national emergency like in 1967 or 1973 there was still a tremendous burden for Israel to shoulder, and it was here that the Jewish people around the world could come to its aid.