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Lza Leader Calls for Support of the Jackson Amendment

March 11, 1974
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Support for the Jackson Amendment, despite the opposition of Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, was called for by the head of the Labor Zionist Alliance at its National Council Assembly this weekend. Dr. Judah J. Shapiro, LZA president, told the more than 100 Labor Zionist leaders from throughout the U.S. that the Jackson Amendment should be included in the Trade Reform Act because Kissinger’s arguments “are based on an assumption of a detente with the Soviet Union.” Thus far, he said, “there is no evidence that Moscow is prepared to act on its own accord to implement human rights and freedom of emigration. Only strong action by the U.S. will establish the will of the American people in this matter.”

Commenting on Kissinger’s argument that the Jackson Amendment would harm detente with the Soviet Union, Dr. Shapiro cited the serious situation along the Syrian-Israel border and he accused Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko, who was in the Middle East last week, of stirring up trouble in the area. “Mr. Gromyko is following step by step our Secretary of State to undo what Dr. Kissinger has done in the Middle East,” declared Dr. Shapiro, adding, “What detente is that!”

In a symposium at the National Council Assembly. Prof. Allen Pollack, member of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization, declared that Labor Zionists must be prepared, if necessary, to criticize the leaders of the government of Israel and the leaders of the Jewish community on the nature of “the society here and there and in the name of the vision of Israel and the Jewish people.” But he reaffirmed the need to continue to support Israel morally, financially and in public affairs.

Warning about an increased Arab propaganda campaign in the U.S., Zev Baumgold; chairman of the National Board, declared that the African nations’ break of diplomatic relations with Israel, the threats, the oil blackmail by the Arabs against the West is an “organized play to destroy the Jewish State in accord with the express will of the Black September movement.”

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