The Labor-Zionist Organization of America – Poale Zion concluded its annual convention Monday with adoption of a series of resolutions on Zionist, domestic and international issues and the election of Dr, Leo Diesendruck, professor of physics at Queens College, as its national president, succeeding Hy Faine who served in that post for the last four years.
The convention took a strong position in favor of establishment of a Zionist federation In the United States in line with the World Zionist Congress decision last June. The convention called on the Labor Zionists’ central committee “to give the highest priority” during the coming term to its establishment.
The convention also adopted a resolution confirming the organization’s commitment to the expansion of educational programs, employment and housing opportunities for black Americans while condemning “the vicious anti-Semitism, anti-Israel agitation and racism which has been part of the hate campaign of some black and white extremist organizations.” The Labor Zionists also backed “compensatory treatment” for black Americans and other minority groups “designed to create quickly equality of rights…In fact as well as In law, in all aspects of American life.”
The resolution on forming an American Zionist federation noted that the Zionist Congress decision was “implicitly directed in the first instance to the U.S. because of the central position America has in the World Zionist Organization and in Jewish life in general. The American Zionist federation must serve to renew Zionist initiative and consolidate our efforts in such major areas as aliyah, youth and education, public affairs, and Jewish action. It must be an indigenous, democratic organization on both the national and the grass roots level. It must be open to new elements and new Ideas. In this way, it will have a double impact, both raising the issues of priority and democracy in American Jewish life and setting an example, in these respects to the community.”
The organization announced its merger with Achdut Avodah, Israel political party, to form the Poale Zion – United Labor Zionist Organization of America. Achdut Avodah is one of the three factions comprising the Israel Labor Party.
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