Neumann, Returning to U.S., Says World Zionist Headquarters Should Not Be in Israel

Dr. Emanuel Neumann, former president of the Zionist Organization of America, last night expressed himself as "bitterly disappointed" over the progress and results of the recent meeting of the Zionist Actions Committee. Dr. Neumann spoke at a press conference on the eve of his departure for the United States.

Dr. Neumann said he favored establishment of the center of the Zionist organization outside of Israel since its main objectives are concerned with Jews in countries outside the Jewish state. The decision to set up a coordinating committee, he said, practically means that the Jewish Agency’s activities will henceforth come under the Israel Government’s supervision, direct or otherwise. This development, he continues, is not conducive to strengthening the Zionist organization or enlarging its scope.

The principal aim of the Zionist movement, he declared, is to consolidate the Zionist organization in each country and to afford it the widest scope, otherwise the movement will be eliminated from the world stage. He had expected the Jerusalem sessions to take positive action on this matter, but nothing has been done, he asserted. He also said that several leading personalities in the Zionist movement who had hoped to see the consolidation and expansion of the movement have now "admitted that the Zionist organization is dying."

The only hope for the Zionist organization’s emerging from its "faltering" position would be the appearance of young, active forces ready to fight for the revival of a powerful organization without which world Jewry would remain without adequate protection, he insisted. He stated that he was "very impressed" with Israel’s recent achievements. He said that there is no reason to fear the consequences of an unselected immigration as the youth has proved the adaptability of Israel’s melting pot.