The policy of the American Jewish League for Israel of disassociating itself from political parties in Israel, while working in the best interest of the country as a whole, was lauded here tonight by a number of American Zionist lender at a dinner tended by the League in honor of Judge Louis E. Levinthal, veteran leader of the American Zionist movement, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in celebration of Israel’s 10th anniversary.
Dr. Israel Goldstein, a co-chairman of the World Organization of General Zionists asserted that the League for Israel membership “has a better per capita record of constructive service to Israel than any other group in American Jewish life, ” and gave this as one of the reasons why he recently joined the League.He praised its policy of “sharring alliances with political factions in Israel, while promoting Israeli-American friendship.”
Judge Levinthal, who is a member of the Actions Committee of the World Zionist Organization, called for changes in the Zionist movement, declaring that “its structure must be thoroughly overhauled” and its aims redefined. “While reserving the right to criticize Israeli policies individually or collectively, Zionists must exercise that right on the merits of each issue as it arises without being prejudiced or pressured by reason of alliances with a political or ideological group in Israel, ” he said.
Mr.Louis Lipsky spoke of the political, independence of Zionists in the United States and praised Judge Levinthal for holding that “the interlocking of Diaspora Zionist groups with Israeli political parties is bound to impair their freedom of action and also the sovereignty of the State of Israel. ” He added that the involvement of non-israeli Zionists in Israel’s affairs “subjects the sovereignty of Israel to influences not directly affected by Israel’s internal affairs and opens Israel to guerilla warfare throughout the Diaspora directed by Israeli political parties”
Ezra Shapiro, the League’s president, predicted that the organization would attract a “great host of uncommitted supporters of Israel who take great pride in the achievements of the State but do not wish to be entangled in its political affairs, ” Israel Ambassador Abba Eban was also one of the speakers. Judge Horace Stern, Pennsylvania’s former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, brought greetings to Judge Levinthal of the bench and bar of his state.
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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.
