President Richard M. Nixon, in the West German capital today, said in a letter of condolence to President Shazar: “All Americans join me in sending you and the people of Israel our deepest sympathy for your tragic loss. Levi Eshkol was a man of great compassion and a true servant of his people. We shall all be the poorer for his passing.”
Messages of condolence were received from Presidents, Prime Ministers, statesmen and politicians all over the world today by the Israel Government and Mrs. Eshkol. A Vatican spokesman said that Pope Paul VI had received news of the death with “sorrow” and instructed his Secretariat of State to send condolences to President Shazar. The Pontiff and Mr. Eshkol met during the Roman Catholic leader’s visit to the Holy Land five years ago. Tass, the Soviet news agency, carried word of his death in a 13-word dispatch, and the Arab press and radio also carried reports. Foreign Minister Michel Debre of France said the death would not make any easier a solution of the Mideast deadlock.
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.
