Kahane Launches National ‘no Palestine’ Campaign

Rabbi Meir Kahane, founder of the Jewish Defense League, called on American Jews today to stage educational campaigns, demonstrations, sit-ins and take-overs to convince both the American and Israeli governments that Israel should not give up any territory. He said the protests should be held at the offices of the United States government, Israeli government and American Jewish organizations.

Kahane spoke to more than 500 persons at the Diplomat Hotel as he and the JDL launched a “There is no Palestine” campaign. Posters throughout the hall said. “There is no Palestine,” “Not one Inch,” Hebron is Jewish–Settlement Now,” and “Dump Kissinger.” There was also a Hebrew poster of the late Ze’ev Jabotinsky, the leader of the Revisionist Movement.

In a long speech, he was critical of Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger whose policies he said would lead to the destruction of the United States as well as Israel. He was also strongly critical of Israeli leaders who he said did not represent the Jewish people.

Kahane accused Kissinger and Israeli leaders of lying because they said there was no American pressure on Israel. He said if Israel made withdrawals without U.S. pressure then her government’s leaders should be impeached. He charged American Jewish leaders with acting only on the approval of the Israeli government.

URGES EDUCATING AMERICAN JEWS

To a largely approving crowd, Kahane said, “There is no Palestine, there never was a Palestine and there never will be a Palestine.” He led the audience in an oath based on the traditional Jewish oath that “If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand be forgotten” but included the West Bank, the Golan and the Gaza Strip.

He said if Jews had no right to Hebron and Nablus then they had no right to Tel Aviv, “Our ancestors did not live on Rechov Dizengoff in Tel Aviv,” he said, adding that the Jews of Biblical times lived in Judea and Samaria, the Golan and Gaza.

Kahane called for a program in the United States of educating American Jews and convincing the Ford Administration that if it caused Israeli withdrawals President Ford would lose votes in 1976. He also urged Jews joining in with Fundamentalist Protestants who, he said, believed in a Jewish State for religious reasons.

For Israel he called for a government of national unity which included Menachem Beigin and was pledged against withdrawals. He said American Jews should send money to support the opposition parties in Israel. He called for the “reunification” of the West Bank to Israel and Jewish settlement there. He said Arab terrorism should be met with terror, and urged Israel to recruit Jewish volunteers to fight for Israel. He also called on Jews to return to God.

After the rally the JDL scheduled demonstrations at the Arab Missions to the United Nations. Kahane arrived in the U.S. from Israel last Thursday night. Before the rally began, members of four Zionist youth organizations distributed leaflets opposing Kahane’s views. The groups were Dror, Habonim, Hamagshamim, and Hashomer Hatzair. There were no incidents.