Senator Robert F. Wagner, chairman of the American Palestine Committee, today issued a statement calling attention to the perilous situation of the Jewish community in Palestine as a result of the extension of the war to the Middle East and urging that the Jews be given “the opportunity and the means to defend themselves.”
“Nothing could be more revolting to me as an American, as a Christian and as a lover of democracy than to see the swastika, emblem of brutality and of revolt against Christian morality, hoisted over the holy places of Palestine,” Senator Wagner said. “And nothing could be more shocking to the civilized world than to see the 500,000 Jews of Palestine, most of them refugees from fiendish persecution, given over to ruthless destruction.
“They should be given the opportunity and the means to defend themselves. Their zeal should be reinforced with the necessary equipment. Faced with the implacable enemy, they have the right to fight and, if need be, to give their all in the cause of the resolute defense of democracy and the Jewish National Homeland.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
