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U.N. Luncheon for Moroccan Canceled Because of Anti-israel Stand

October 18, 1965
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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A luncheon scheduled in honor of a Moroccan delegate here was canceled this weekend specifically because the Moroccan had shown animosity to an Israeli delegate.

The luncheon had been organized by delegates assigned to the 117-member Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee of the General Assembly, to honor Mrs. Halima Warzazi, of Morocco, who has been elected vice-chairman of the group. The organizers of the event extended an invitation to the luncheon to Israel’s representative on the committee, Judge Hadassah Ben-Ito, who said she would attend if her presence at the luncheon were acceptable to the proposed guest of honor.

When the organizers asked Mrs. Warzazi whether she would agree to have Judge Ben-Ito attend, the Moroccan delegate replied very sharply in the negative. At that point, Lady Gaitskell, Britain’s representative on the committee, said she would refuse to attend if Judge Ben-Ito were not invited. (Lady Gaitskell is Jewish.) The organizers of the luncheon then called the whole thing off, notifying Mrs. Warzazi in writing that the event was being canceled because of Mrs. Warzazi’s attitude toward the Israel delegate.

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