United States Rep. Bella S. Abzug of New York, in Israel for a weeklong visit, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency here today that she had noticed a lessening of Arab Israeli tensions within Israel and that she hoped “it will carry forward and lead to a real settlement.” Mrs. Abzug. New York’s first Jewish Congresswoman, in an interview with Amos Ben-Vered, JTA Middle East Bureau Chief, said: “If people relate, that makes a difference.” Asked about the best means toward a Middle East settlement, she said without hesitation: “Direct negotiations.” Of Israel’s impact on American visitors, she exclaimed: “There is a dynamic feeling–great, excited, inspired. This is of course impressive.” But, comparing her current visit with her stay here in 1959. Mrs. Abzug observed that “From the little I have seen so far I deduce that the social problems here have not been solved.” The legislator, here as a guest of the government, has been meeting with Israeli officials concerned with the social aspects of life here, such as Immigrant Absorption Minister Natan Peled; Mrs. Zina Harmann, Knesset member and chairman of its Committee on Demography, and trade union leaders.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
