Congressman Emanuel Celler, dean of the House of Representatives and chairman of its Judiciary Committee, charged tonight that the “so-called Palestine Liberation Army, which is sending its terroristic bands on missions of murder into Israel, derives financial aid from the United Nations Relief and Works Administration, through funds allocated for rations to Arab refugees.”
Mr. Celler told 400 persons attending the annual dinner of Bnai Zion, American fraternal Zionist organization, that members of the terroristic Arab army are being recruited from the ranks of the Arab refugees. Despite strenuous objections, he said, U.N. funds are being spent for Arab refugees who are members of the army, with the excuse that they could not be distinguished from ordinary refugees.
Mr. Celler was presented with the 1967 Bnai Zion America-Israel Friendship Award, a gold medal, in recognition for his services in strengthening the ties between the two democracies. Edward Sharf, president of Bnai Zion, made the presentation.
Special messages lauding Mr. Celler’s long service in Congress or on behalf of Israel were sent to the dinner by President Johnson, Israel’s President Zalman Shazar and Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol. Mr. Johnson noted in his message that “no man in the House of Representatives has served longer or with greater dedication to the public interest” than Congressman Celler.
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