Jacques Torczyner, co-president of the World Union of General Zionists, took issue today with Kalman Sultanik, executive vice-president of the World Confederation of United Zionists, for suggesting postponement of the elections to the World Zionist Congress scheduled to be held in Jerusalem in December. (See Daily News Bulletin March 18.)
In a statement released here, Torczyner observed that the Jewish communities of Europe are faced with immediate problems of assimilation and Jewish education. He said the Zionist organizations are preparing for the World Zionist Congress and that Zionism has again become an active movement as a result of the attacks on it in the United Nations.
Torczyner said the WCUZ’s policy of “noninterference” in internal Israeli affairs has become less popular as diaspora Zionists have become more critical of Israeli developments. He also suggested that Sultanik feared that his group would have fewer delegates at the forthcoming Congress.
But that, Torczyner said, is not sufficient reason to justify the cancellation of elections. He also maintained that Sultanik’s proposal that World Zionist Organization chairman Yosef Almogi be given more time to acquaint himself with the Zionist movement was a false issue. Since his election last year. Almogi has taken hold of the leadership with a firm hand, Torczyner said.
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