Jewish Summit Meeting Set

A joint committee of the government and the World Zionist Organization, headed by Premier Yitzhak Rabin met to formulate plans for the three-day world Jewish “summit” to be held in the Knesset building starting Wednesday.

Some 150 Jewish leaders from abroad are expected for the meeting. The Israeli delegation will include Cabinet ministers, members of the WZO and Jewish Agency and representatives of the Histadrut, the Manufacturers Association, youth movements and the universities. Rabin asked Knesset Speaker Yisrael Yeshayahu to appoint the Knesset members who will attend the conclave.

Rabin stressed that the targets of the summit are a political demonstration of solidarity with Israel and Zionism, and the working out of specific and practical plans for Jewish communities throughout the world to express their solidarity through aliya and development.

Rabin listed some of the plans which would be introduced to the conference; large-scale pilgrimages to Israel, which would include aliya, short tours, summer camps, a year in Israel (shnat sheirut), celebrations of Bar Mitzvah and other religious ceremonies; convening Jewish organizations here rather than overseas; formation of settlement groups and the adoption of development towns by Jewish organizations; intensification of Jewish material support for Israel; greater efforts in Jewish education, especially abroad; and a large-scale information campaign on Israel and Zionism among Jews and non-Jews alike.

On Thursday, the second day of the “summit,” the participants will be divided into five subgroups which will work out the practical plans. These committees will deal with aliya, fund-raising, information, settlements and similar topics.