Shazar Welcomed in New York; Looks Forward to Meeting with Johnson

Top leaders of all major Jewish organizations were at the airport here early this morning to greet Israel President Zalman Shazar on his arrival from Brazil for a brief stay in the United States en-route back to Israel from a six-week trip to South America which included state visits to Uruguay, Chile and Brazil.

Most of these leaders had to get up at dawn and travel more than an hour to the John F. Kennedy Airport where the plane carrying the President and his entourage landed at 7:30 in the morning. The waiting room assigned by the airport authorities for the distinguished audience which came to meet President Shazar upon his landing was crowded even before 6:00 in the morning. At least 50 organizations sent delegations to the airport. They included the United Jewish Appeal, the Jewish Agency, the Israel Bond Organization, American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress, Rabbinical organizations, Zionist groups and cultural institutions.

Among the delegations was also one representing the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Originally President Shazar was scheduled to pay a visit to the Rebbe on Saturday evening. However, certain changes were made at the last minute in the program of the President’s schedule and his projected visit to the Lubavitcher Rebbe was eliminated along with other previously arranged meetings with various personalities.

The President looked somewhat tired from the all-night flight when he landed. The first to greet him at the airport were Israel Ambassador Avraham Harman; Ambassador Michael Comay, head of the Israeli delegation at the United Nations; and Michael Arnon, Israel’s Consul General in New York. They escorted him and Mrs. Shazar to the waiting room where the delegations from the Jewish organizations were waiting to welcome him.

Mr. Shazar affectionately shook hands with many of the Jewish leaders whom he knew for years either from his old-time visits to the United States or from their visits to Israel. To some he made brief remarks in Hebrew, to some he spoke in Yiddish, and some he greeted in English. He expressed sincere joy in seeing some of his old personal friends in the audience.

SAYS MANY MEMORIES AND FRIENDSHIPS LINK HIM WITH NEW YORK

At a brief press conference at the airport later, President Shazar said he was “delighted” to spend a few days in the United States on his way home from “most gratifying and heart warming visits to Uruguay, Chile and Brazil.” He stressed that he and Mrs. Shazar were “very happy to be once more in the great metropolis of New York” and emphasized that “many memories and friendships” link him and his wife to the city of New York.

“We particularly look forward to our meeting on August 2 with President Johnson, whose leadership in the defense of human rights and the strengthening of democracy, the preservation of the independence of small countries and the quest for world peace, we so deeply appreciate,” he said.

In a brief Hebrew broadcast from the airport to Israel, he said how overjoyed he was with his visits to the South American countries and how glad he is to be on U.S. soil for a few days. He expressed hope that his visits to the American continent will contribute to the strengthening of friendship between these countries and Israel. He told his listener in Israel that he expects to be back in Jerusalem within a week.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TAKEN BY POLICE TO PROTECT SHAZAR

Strong precautionary police measures were taken at the airport hours prior to the arrival of the plane which carried Mr. Shazar and his party. Several policemen, headed by a Jewish police captain, also served as his body guards while he remained on the airport premises. He was taken by motorcade to the Plaza Hotel in the city where he will stay during the days he will spend in New York. The Israeli flag was displayed over the hotel, which is located in the fashionable center of the city.

President and Mrs. Shazar, tired from the flight, remained in the hotel for the entire day making no other arrangements for the day except resting. Tomorrow he will attend a luncheon given in his honor by Mayor John V. Lindsay at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Representatives of the State Department, of Governor Rockefeller and of Mayor Lindsay were at the airport this morning to greet Mr. Shazar on his arrival to this country.

The Jewish press in New York, including the pro-Communist daily newspaper “Freheit,” carries long articles on Mr. Shazar and his role in the Zionist movement and in cultural life of Israel. In addition to articles and welcoming editorials, the Yiddish daily newspapers feature the arrival of the Israel President as the main news of the day with banner headlines “Welcome, President Shazar!”

WILL RETURN TO ISRAEL NEXT THURSDAY WITH STOPOVER IN ZURICH

During his stay in New York, the Israel President will visit the United Nations as the guest of Secretary-General U Thant who is giving a luncheon in his honor on Monday. More than 40 dignitaries have been invited by the U.N. Secretary-General to this luncheon, including ambassadors from a number of countries.

While President Shazar will be entertained by the Secretary-General, Mrs. Shazar will be honored at a luncheon in the United Nations tendered by Mrs. Michael Comay, wife of the head of the Israeli delegation to the United Nations. Wives of U.N. delegates and leaders of women’s organizations have been invited by Mrs. Comay to this luncheon.

President Shazar will leave the United States next Thursday, the day after his visit to Washington. His departure from this country was arranged on the basis of instructions issued by President Shazar while he was visiting Rio de Janeiro. Since flying from New York on Thursday will cause the Israeli President to arrive in Europe on Friday evening, he has arranged to stop over in Zurich, Switzerland, where he will observe the Sabbath. He will continue his flight to Israel on Sunday, August 7, where he is expected to arrive in the afternoon.