Knesset Interrupts Foreign Policy Debate to Mark Chanukah

With Chanukah being ushered in tonight, the Israel Parliament today interrupted its foreign policy debate until next Monday to mark the start of the eight-day holiday. The debate will be resumed with a reply by Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett to critics of the government policy, which Mr. Sharett outlined and defended yesterday.

Last night, Yaacov Riftin, Mapam deputy, attacked the government’s foreign policy which, he charged, had “sold itself to Western capitalism” and had not sought “real friendship” with the Eastern bloc. General Zionist deputy Chaim Ariav, although he agreed with Mr. Sharett in general, criticized the government for not maintaining fuller and closer ties with every part of the Zionist world.

Herut deputy Chaim Landau accused the government of practicing a policy of appeasement and restraint in reference to the Arab states, and demanded that the government proclaim UN truce supervisor Gen. Vagn Bennike personna non grata. The Poale Mizrachi urged an increase in immigration.

All speakers today and yesterday, including members of the opposition parties, warmly praised the dignified position taken by Israel’s delegation to the United Nations during the Security Council debate on the Kibya resolution.

The traditional Chanukah torch was lighted today at Modiin, starting place of the Macabbi revolt against the Graeco-Syrians some 2,000 years ago, and was borne by cross country runners to Jerusalem where President Isaac Ben Zvi accepted the symbol of freedom.

At the same moment the President received the torch, a huge menorah was lighted here while a beacon was ignited atop Mt. Scopus to symbolize the ties between the Hebrew University and the Hadassah Hospital on the height, cut off by Jordan troops, and the rest of the Jewish State.