Orthodox Rabbinical Group Appeals to Truman for U.N. Protection for Jerusalem

An appeal to President Truman for immediate action to save Jerusalem in the present conflict in Palestine was made public today by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of America. The telegram to the President was signed by the Presidium of the Union and 530 other Orthodox rabbis.

The message expressed horror over the “desecration which armed Aran gangs have been permitted to perpetrate” in the holiest precincts of the city. They pointed out that Jews have been denied access to the ancient Wailing Wall, holiest sanctuary of Israel, which has been “profaned by armed hooligans” and that the entire city with its population of 100,000 Jews has been isolated by hostile forces which seek-to starve and destroy them.

The telegram recalled that under the General Assembly’s resolution of November 29, 1947, Jerusalem was to be internationalized “as the common heritage of all ?cankind.” It added: “We therefore beg of you and through you of our government that immediate action he taken to establish forthwith international trusteeship for the city and to effectuate the decision of the United Nations including the recruitment of a non-Palestinian force to keep the peace in the holy city.”

Similar telegrams were sent to Cardinal Spellman asking for his assistance, to Karel Lisicky, chairman of the United Nations Palestine Commission urging that the Palestine Commission take immediate action, and to Sir Alexander Cadogan urging that the United Kingdom take immediate steps to remove the threat hanging over Jerusalem so long as it is responsible for law and order under the Mandate.