Jewish and non-Jewish leaders Issued statements of shock, regret and condemnation of the murderous attack last night. A Kaddish for the victims wad recited last night by the 400 delegates attending the 43rd annual convention of the National Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs in Miami Beach.
Jacob Stein, chairman of ‘-ho Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, declared that “all civilized persons must decry and abhor this senseless destruction of human life.” He declared that “the guilt for this horrible crime against humanity must be shared by Lebanon, which provides a haven, base and encouragement for the terrorist organizations which sponsored this monstrous act.”
Stein said the Presidents Conference urged “every government in the world, the United Nations and church organizations to condemn without reservation these brutal murders” and that airlines and pilots should refuse service to nations “housing the terrorist groups.”
CHURCH LEADER APPALLED
A leader of the two-million-member United Church of Christ said today that “Men of every religious faith are appalled by the horror of the massacre of the innocent people In the Tel Aviv Airport.” Dr. David Stowe, executive vice-president of the United Church Board for World Ministries, the overseas missionary arm of the UC of C, said “The world cannot endure such senseless and unfeeling disregard of the sanctity of human life nor such haphazard and hopeless attempts to settle political differences through terror.”
Dr. Stowe, who has taught in Lebanon, continued: “It Is not enough to make moves toward disarmament In Moscow and leave a fire raging In the Middle East. The governments of the United States and the Soviet Union have a responsibility to follow their first steps toward peace with a determined effort to bring about a settlement of the differences between Israel and the Arab people and to establish and help maintain lasting peace in the Middle East.”
ISRAEL’S SPIRIT WILL NOT BE BROKEN.
Rabbi Israel Miller, president of the American Zionist Federation, asserted that “Israel’s spirit will not be broken nor will American Jewry be deterred from visiting the Holy Land because of acts of terror/* He said “we cannot understand the deafening silence of world and spiritual leaders to the murderous deed and the boast of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine which proudly claims credit for this bloodshed.
Rabbi Miller declared American Jewry “will rise to the challenge to Israel’s Integrity with additional support.” Ha also warned that unless the nations of the world “take effective steps to stop this madness now, we are all at the mercy of political malcontents and terrorists” throughout the world.
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