More Expressions of Shock and Sympathy over Lydda Massacre Offered by Jews and Non-jews

American Jews and non-Jews continued today to voice shock and revulsion over the Lydda Airport massacre and demanded more stringent security measures by airports and international airline, Dr. Carl Bates, president of the 12-million member Southern Baptist Convention, cabled a message of condolence to President Zalman Shazar of Israel in which he expressed his sorrow at the “savage, unprovoked massacre of innocent people by hired killers of the Arab terrorist movement.”

“The tragedy is all the more poignant in the land where the Prince of Peace lived and which is sacred to all Christians as well as Jews and Moslems,” Dr, Bates message said. Its text was made public here by Rabbi Solomon S. Bernards, national director of Interreligious Cooperation of the B’nai B’rith’s Anti-Defamation League, at Dr, Bates’ request. The Baptist leader expressed sympathy for the bereaved families of the massacre victims and said he was praying “for the swift recovery of the wounded.” An urgent appeal for greater vigilance by air transport authorities all over the world to avoid a repetition of the President Nixon by the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods.

NIXON URGED TO CONDEMN TERRORISM

Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, president of the American Jewish Congress, called the Lydda massacre an “event beyond politics” and said guilt rested with both the killers and “governments that give them succor and sanctuary.” He urged “civilized nations to act “vigorously and in concert to outlaw any governments that continue to protect or tolerate those who are responsible. President Nixon, Secretary of State William P Roger and United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim were asked by the ADL Friday “to condemn all acts of terrorism” and “to privately and publicly urge each Arab government to abandon its support of Palestinian terrorist groups. About 200 guests attending a dinner of the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science in Montreal, observed a minute of silence for the Lydda victims who included Prof. Aharon Katzir-Katchalsky of the Weizmann Institute of Science at Rehovoth.

CATHOLICS, PROTESTANTS SPEAK OUT

Catholics and Protestants Joined the Jewish community in Washington today in an expression of “shock and moral outrage at the cold-blooded murders” at Lydda Airport. A joins statement issued by the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington the Council of Churches of Greater Washington and the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington said “international violence must arouse revulsion in all decent human beings,” and declared that countries fostering such violence should be held accountable. The statement called for more effective airline security measures, It was signed by Patrick Cardinal O’Boyle of the Catholic Archdiocese The Rever Arnold F. Keller, President of the Council of Churches; and Harvey H Ammerman, president of the Jewish Community Council.