Expressions of sympathy and sorrow from world leaders over the passing of President Ben-Zvi continued to pour into Israel today.
Messages have been received from United States Secretary General U Thant, the White House, French President Charles de Gaulle, King Gustav of Sweden, Queen Juliana of Holland, Queen Mother Elizabeth of Belgium, West German President Heinrich Luebke and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of West Germany, presidents of many African states and many others.
Italian Foreign Minister Attillio Piccioni cabled “profound and deep regret.” A message also was received from Belgium’s Foreign Minister Paul Henri-Spaak, whose scheduled visit to Israel on April 21 was canceled because of President Ben-Zvi’s fatal illness.
Soviet Ambassador Mikhail Bodrov, the dean of the diplomatic corps, and heads of various foreign missions called at the President’s residence and the Israel Foreign Office to sign condolence books. Messages also were sent by Israel’s Christian, Druze and Moslem communities.
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