President Shazar Cutlines His Stand on Varic Us Problems to J.t.a.

President Zalman Shazar told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that he regarded the central task of the Presidency as the rallying of forces for internal unity and consolidation, which is a “historical imperative.”

He took the opportunity, in the exclusive interview, to express through the JTA his thanks to his many friends abroad for their congratulations and good wishes. He said the task of creating internal unity in Israel was the task pursued by his predecessor, the late Izhak Ben-Zvi, and he expressed the hope that he would be successful in following in Mr. Ben-Zvi’s footsteps.

Israel’s third President disclosed that he had been initially hesitant about accepting the nomination. “As a member of the World Zionist Organization executive, I devoted the past decade to cultural and educational work, a task which is close to my heart and which I consider of paramount importance. I was reluctant to leave it,” he said.

He added that getting assurance that this work would not be affected was one of his main concerns in the days preceding his decision on acceptance. With characteristic frankness, the President added that there were “other reasons” for his hesitancy.

STRESSES NEED TO NARROW THE PARTISAN GAPS IN ISRAEL

He said that, knowing the reality of Israel’s internal political life, the divergent nature of the Israeli community, and the special nature of Israel’s relationship with world Jewry, he had wondered whether he could live up to the task. He stressed that he was “under no illusions about the difficulties of the task,” and added: “To the extent we will be able to overcome the gap between communities and hasten cultural integration in Israel, and narrow the partisan gaps, including that between the secular and religious elements, and bring about a meeting of hearts–the State’s character will be determined and strengthened.”

He told the JTA he felt that not enough was being done to strengthen the ties and deepening the recognition of mutuality between Israel and Jews in other countries. He added that, while the problem was recognized “theoretically,” in practice there was a “still wide open field,” a field “crying out for action.”

The many years he had devoted to the Zionist movement before and after joining the WZO executive, and especially the experience gained in furthering the work of Jewish education and culture would be, he said, of invaluable help to him as President.

He emphasized that peace -both within and without–remained the goal which Israel must pursue with maximum effort and determination. He stressed that the friendships which Israel had developed with many nations “are a great achievement and asset, and we must continue to foster such friendships as before in a spirit of sincerity and with the aim of mutual assistance.”